GLADSTONE — North Kansas City Schools hosted an open house for their new Future Ready Lab and about 150 community members and staff turned out for the event.
Many had the opportunity to operate the animatronic figures making their arms, mouth and body move, according to a district press release. Among those speaking at the event were Superintendent Rochel Daniels and Garner Holt of Garner Holt Productions.
The Future Ready Lab’s open house took place Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Northland Innovation Center.
Garner Holt Education Through Imagination is a program to bring art and technology together, allowing students with different interests to collaborate through project-based learning. Board of Education President Jan Kauk led students and staff in the official ribbon cutting.
Representatives from McCownGordon Construction and Hollis Miller Architects were also on hand. Both companies worked together to create the learning space.
Garner Holt Productions is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of theme park animatronics. Students will have the opportunity to design and program several animatronics in the lab. Garner Holt Productions has hundreds of animatronics in Disney parks around the world.
The Future Ready Lab allows students to work in teams to create lively and engaging animatronic shows that demonstrate their learning of a concept, topic or theme.
“Students engage in a variety of STEAM activities from programming one of the five robots with 10 independently controlled motors, to script writing, voice acting, lighting and sound, set design, costuming, prop making and more,” reads a school district release.
Cammy Neth, Future Ready Lab coordinator said the lab will take student’s learning experiences to a whole new level.<n> “Animatronics serve as a powerful bridge between imagination and technology, offering endless learning opportunities that spark creativity, engineering skills and an appreciation for the art of storytelling,” she shared.
Currently, students at four elementary schools are taking part in this project including Clardy, Briarcliff, Northview and Ravenwood. Students from the Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students are also learning in the lab. A full roll out to include all district schools is expected next fall.
