D-Lab Jr. Public Wiki

This is the public wiki of D-Lab Jr., a collaborative effort between MIT's D-Lab and various primary and secondary schools in Boston, Brazil, India, Ghana and elsewhere. The purpose of this collaboration is to create, share and teach curriculum that forms connections between, and encourages creativity, hands-on exploration and social-mindedness within, K-12 students around the world.

In order to do that, D-Lab Jr. will foster

the development of “D-Lab Jr. kits” to facilitate the adoption of D-Lab-like projects by schools and after-school programs
the exchange of experiences among students and among students and practitioners from different parts of the world

Each D-Lab Jr. kit will include, among other things:

Detailed instructions on how to prepare and run the project
Support materials to help facilitators choose the project, adapt the suggested activities to the local context, and explore the scientific and social dimensions inherent to those activities

In addition to enabling the dissemination and implementation of already-existing projects, D-Lab Jr. will encourage students and facilitators to come up with their own ideas and share them with other members of the initiative. That might be accomplished via online venues such as websites and email lists, or via the organization of face-to-face events such as “invention parties” in different locations, special science fair tracks, and more.

This effort is just beginning. For now, you may follow this work through this public wiki.

Implementation plan

Phase 1 - Pilot

Create mailing list and wiki to facilitate exchange among interested partners
Identify a few D-Lab projects to start the pilot with
Generate kits out of those projects
Pilot kits as part of D-Lab trips, local science classes, events
Summarize and share the lessons learned

Phase 2 - Dissemination (implementation of the network)

Promote the initiative to other partners
Foster the creation of new kits by members of the network
Organize events (invention parties, gathering at IDDS, science fair track, etc.)