Summer 2024 Innovation Lab Impact Report

The 2024 MeshEd Summer Innovation Lab, funded by the Connecticut State Department of Education, was held at three CREC (Capital Region Educational Council) academy locations and served over 300 middle school learners. Students selected their afternoon enrichment activity from four MeshEd career exploration courses. Data collected show learner growth in key digital literacy skills and in skills for the future, such as creative problem-solving, collaboration, project management, and critical thinking.

Program design features:

MeshEd Action Labs: Students chose from four distinct courses: Coding for Game Design, Digital Animation + AI, Art of the Graphic Novel, and Art of the Podcast. Each course teaches technical and creative skills through hands-on projects aligned with state- specific educational standards. Digital portfolios are used in each course to measure the outcomes of students’ project-based learning experiences.

Fun Fridays: Each Friday, students participated in elective activities. Local guest experts led activities in areas such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship, chess, jewelry design and environmental art. Additionally, students enjoyed team-driven activities like scavenger hunts and talent shows, which added an element of fun and community-building.

Family engagement: Families were regularly updated through weekly email communications and invited to attend the final project showcase. These in-person events facilitated deeper connections between students, families, and the broader community.