GRITLab is a 9th grade STEAMM program, currently incubated at High Tech High. GRITlab teachs science, graphic design, and engineering principles through complex interdisciplinary projects with a focus on developing GRIT in students as they propose, design, and fabricate complex engineering systems. GRITLab has been recognized for its outstanding work with students by the Paul G. Allen Foundation, San Diego Foundation, Aerospace Physiology Society, McGraw Hill, MIT InvenTeams, the Teaching Channel, and is currently featured in the film documentaries Most Likely to Succeed and Beyond Measure. GRITLab was founded in 2012 by Scott Swaaley.
GRITLab also offers keynote and consulting services, including
the Adversity by Design Teacher Development Experience for educators, conferences, or districts interested in project based learning practices or the integration of Adversity by Design experiences into their curriculum.
Pedagogy & Practice
Building on the construcivist pedagogy of Dewey, Piaget, and the current work of Larry Rosenstock at High Tech High, GRITLab is working to contribute to the discussion by providing practical considerations, pedogogy, and examples for teachers to use in a modern classroom.
GRIT
Building off the work of Paul Stoltz, Angela Duckworth, and Carol Dweck, GRITLab strives to identify and improve the Growth Mindset, Resilience, Instinct, and Tenacity in its students. To see what all this means, click the button below:
Adversity by Design (AbD) is a set of course considerations and methodologies and is at the core of the GRITLab program. While it exists most authentically in a project-based-learning environment, its principles can be used in any classroom. Read more by pressing the button below:
GRITLab is more than just a learning environment for students. It's a test bed for new ideas, pedagogy, and structures for our greater educational community. As such, we seek to document our successes, experiences, and failures in order to inform the national debate on progressive education and we often provide services to organizations, districts, and teachers throughout the country. Our keynotes and consulting services are customized to the personal and professional context of each engagement. Some examples of previous work below:
