The de Toledo High School Media Lab

The Amnon and Ronit Band Media Lab at de Toledo High School is an innovative learning environment which promotes academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth. Over the last 12 years, the lab has evolved from a basic computer lab to a flexible and creative space designed to serve the varied educational needs of students and teachers in the media arts including: video production, animation, photography, graphic design, and computer science as well as serving the broader school community for instructional support, school and professional development.

The accompanying tour video showcases the features of the lab including:

The central “conference/work table” design supporting group discussion, social interaction, interdisciplinary projects (with other classes) and lots of space for conceptual development of projects.

The three tables that comprise the center conference table can be separated for group work.

Some classes use the space for mindfulness practice: Students sit around the central table, lights are turned off and they are led in a group meditation.

Computers around the perimeter of the room solve the challenges that occur in a traditional computer lab when students are sitting in front of computer screens during class discussions or instruction. Swivel/rolling chairs enable the effortless shift from work on the computers to quickly rolling up to the central tables or just swiveling around to look up at a projected tutorial.

The Media Lab features 3 breakout rooms:

Media Studio 1 is a video production studio with a green wall, black, white and grey backgrounds, cameras, tripods and lighting equipment. The studio is used not only by media arts, video production and photography classes, but by students in all other disciplines as well as the marketing and development departments for school related videos.

Media Studio 2, the central breakout room is a multi-purpose creative studio and “playspace.” It features a central table for group and individual work, a white board, audio recording and music production, stop motion animation and art supplies. We are currently researching a virtual reality station for the playspace as well.

The Media Storage Room also serves as my office, which is available to students who desire a quiet workspace during class.

We are fortunate to enjoy quick access to the outdoors through a back stairwell right outside the media lab door. Classes often migrate under the trees to balance the light of the computer monitors with the light of the sun.

The dTHS Media Lab serves as a refuge for many students during the school day. It is a place for interaction, creative exploration, experimentation, and experiential learning.