Led by Career Technical Education teacher and maker education author, Danielle Martin—with support from Stanford Graduate School of Education’s Makery manager, Aaron Ragsdale—the Dream Lab is a collaborative workspace where students explore experiential learning, increase their college and career readiness, and create projects with STEM tools.  

As a proud recipient of the State of California’s K12 Strong Workforce Program grant, EPAA implemented our first full-length elective course in the Dream Lab this year. In the next two years, we will launch a full Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway in Engineering & Architecture. Through these dual-enrollment courses with Foothill College, students will be able to prepare for higher education and careers in engineering. 

Combining skills-based instruction and a project-based curriculum, the Dream Lab supports students in bringing their ideas to life. At the Design for Social Good showcase hosted at Stanford University in May 2018, Dream Lab students shared about GlowVis, a digitally enhanced cane they designed to help the blind community, receiving $1,000 to prototype their product. In May 2019, Dream Lab students presented UltraDot, a proximity-sensing sign that alerts drivers not to encroach on wheelchair-accessible parking spots, and they were again awarded $1,000. Through the Makerspace, students are empowered to design and build—all in pursuit of EPAA’s vision that they will “create a positive impact on their lives, their community, and the global society.” 

To learn more, please contact Danielle at dmartin@seq.org.