Innovation Center at Hillside
First introduced in the fall of 2015, Hillside’s iLab has quickly become a centerpiece of both our campus and our program. The iLab represents an important educational shift toward 21st century skill building, creative expression, and problem solving. It stimulates curiosity and active engagement, while deemphasizing passive learning and teacher-centered instruction. The success of the iLab has been measured by faculty enthusiasm, parent encouragement, and most importantly the overwhelmingly positive response from our students.
After less than a year in a redesigned classroom space, it became clear that our students and faculty needed a larger, upgraded facility to fully realize their innovation goals. During the fall of 2016, Hillside’s library was transformed into a state of the art Innovation Center, complete with multiple workspaces; designated areas for individual projects as well as collaboration; and a research room.
Encouraging Collaboration
The Hillside iLab pushes students to collaborate and generate ideas together – white board walls and tables help simple concepts become more formulated plans of action. Boys jot down their thoughts and then – just as easily – modify, add to, or abandon their notions as the ideation process unfolds. In line with the 21st century approach, students are asked to see mistakes and failures as an acceptable and even helpful aspect of learning. iLab projects frequently require several “drafts” and many written, erased, and rewritten whiteboard notes and doodles.
Explore the iLab
Student Leadership
Learn about the many opportunities for students leadership roles at Hillside.
Community Service
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