Innovation Lab
The TCS Innovation Lab is more than just a physical space; it's a dynamic hub cultivating an "Innovator's Mindset," inspired by George Couros' influential work. This philosophy permeates our learning culture, actively encouraging curiosity, embracing risk-taking, and fostering a belief in the power of continuous growth for every student.
Following Couros' principles, the lab fosters a vital "growth mindset," transforming challenges into opportunities for mastery through effort and perseverance. We empower students to be true innovators – not just consumers of information, but active creators, insightful problem-solvers, and collaborative thinkers. This hands-on process directly cultivates TCS’s core values:
Curiosity: Ignited through open-ended exploration, students are free to ask "what if?" and delve into the unknown, driving their own unique learning quests.
Compassion: Built through collaborative projects where students understand diverse needs in design solutions and develop empathy through shared creation.
Courage: Developed by embracing experimentation, viewing "failures" as valuable learning data, and confidently presenting novel ideas and solutions.
Agency: Empowered as students drive their own projects, make meaningful choices, and take profound ownership of their unique learning journeys.
Our lab deeply connects to Austin's vibrant culture, and involves the arts and music, serving as a creative incubator. Students might design imaginative "Keep Austin Weird" contraptions from recycled materials, compose vibrant "Soundscapes of South Congress" using found objects, or collaborate on Austin-inspired murals. They might also engage in building structures to withstand severe weather, designing games, constructing a miniature golf course, building and programming robots, or prototyping solutions to real-world problems using a diverse array of tools. The opportunities are endless.
Further underscoring this commitment, Geoff Harrison, Founder and Head of School, will personally lead a class within the Innovation Lab. He will guide students through hands-on, inquiry-driven challenges, directly embodying TCS’s learner-centered philosophy and modeling the courage and curiosity we wish to instill in every child. His direct involvement ensures that the spirit of innovation is woven into the very heart of the school's daily experience.
The TCS Innovation Lab is where experimentation is celebrated, and future-ready individuals with the mindset to shape a better world are developed.
