Students at Gus Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy in East Austin now have access to augmented and virtual reality, 3D printing and artificial intelligence tools after Austin ISD unveiled a Verizon Innovative Learning Lab at the school Sept. 24, according to a district news release.
Why it matters
The lab program was created to give students at Title I middle schools skills for a digital world, according to Arizona State University. Students use design thinking to develop solutions to problems in their own communities, according to the district release.
The details
The lab at the all-boys academy, 7414 Johnny Morris Road, is one of 200 Verizon Innovative Learning Labs nationwide, according to the release.
Verizon funded the lab through partnerships with two groups:
Also of note
Garcia has been part of Verizon's Innovative Learning Schools program since 2019, when it was one of five AISD middle schools to join, according to the district. The program gives every student and teacher a device and up to a four-year data plan.
The lab curriculum covers AR/VR, 3D printing and AI. It is free for any educator through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, according to Verizon.
