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friends central school

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STEAM at FCS

The Audrie Gardham Ulmer '37 Center for Innovation & Design

With approximately 6,800 square feet of space, the newly renovated CID includes studios for design and prototyping, fabrication, technology and robotics. 

The Ulmer Family Light Lab

This groundbreaking space designed specifically for children in Nursery to Grade five opened on October 21, 2016. A cutting-edge facility, it is equipped with four themed Maker studios: Natural Sciences, Media/Computing, Fabrication, and Design. 

Maker Education

Maker education is grounded in the tradition of constructionism, which holds that we learn best by building knowledge through experience. When we engage with tools, materials, and each other in the process of building objects, we develop personal and lasting knowledge. An essential component of this work is giving students the opportunity to discover and explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) concepts, to engage in hands-on learning, and to understand the intersections among those disciplines. Research has shown that students who engage in building, engineering, and creating discern how to effectively solve problems, experiment with new ideas, and learn through iteration.

Quakerism and Making: The Power of Inquiry

So what does a religion founded in 17th century England and Making have in common? Simply put, both believe in the primacy of questions over answers. Not simple questions with simple answers, but complex ones that challenge us to investigate, explore, and grow. In the language of the maker movement we call these types of questions inquiries; within Quakerism they are called simply queries. Queries guide our thoughts and actions, help us to see the truth and value in another's perspective, and empower everyone to contribute to the work of peacefully transforming the world.