Baltimore County Public Schools recently unveiled its Mobile Innovation Lab, a mobile classroom and “makerspace” built on a school bus. The lab helps students learn about coding, programming, robotics, and circuitry in a hands-on environment.
PHOTOS: Baltimore District's Mobile 'Makerspace' Conversion
On Dec. 1, Baltimore County Public Schools unveiled what it calls its Mobile Innovation Lab, a mobile classroom and “makerspace” built on a school bus.
The transportation department began working with the district’s department of information technology and electricians on converting an out-of-service bus in June after school ended.
A bus with a wheelchair lift was selected as the project vehicle, offering the ability to take everything meant to be done on the mobile lab into a school or outside.
The lab includes six computer stations.
Equipment on the lab also includes 3D printers; a vinyl cutter; a computer numerical control router for cutting hard materials; mini-drones; Legos; and a flat-screen television.
Transportation department technicians installed a 16-foot awning on the right side of the bus so it could be turned into a teaching area.