Krause Pedagogical Innovation Lab
The Krause Pedagogical Innovation Lab
Overview
Established in 2024 through a generous gift from Gay and Bill Krause, the Krause Pedagogical Innovation Lab (KPIL) is a multi-purpose space that serves as both a classroom and a makerspace for College of Education students and faculty. Its mission is to endow future educators with the ability to bring creativity and a maker's mindset to their future classrooms. Students can learn new skills, create maker projects, and practice pedagogy with an assortment of maker tools and equipment housed in the space. The KPIL is located at 202 Chambers Building and is open for use to not only students but staff and faculty as well.
The multi-purpose nature of the lab allows it to be a flexible space for different types of academic activities. When it is being used as a classroom, the lab is home to the College of Education’s LDT110N “Making with Art and Learning Technologies” course. A class in which students explore what it means to be a maker, understand that a community can work and learn together as a community, and practice learning and teaching maker skills. This course allows students to dip their toes into the world of making while also learning valuable pedagogical skills along the way.
The KPIL can also be used as a research space with the use of its built-in array of cameras and microphones. These research tools are set up to record student interactions at the worktables and can provide valuable insight into peer-to-peer interactions. Any faculty interested in using the space for research purposes should contact the lab director.
At its core, the KPIL is a makerspace and is home to a wide assortment of creative tools and equipment that can help you create across various mediums. These tools are available during open-makerspace hours where students, staff, and faculty can come to use the space and the tools within for free. Any material components for projects must be brought by those looking to use the space. The lab director is present during open hours and is available to teach users about the equipment and support those using the makerspace. Open maker hours are drop-in so there is no need for interested makers to make an appointment to use the space.
Open maker hours for the Spring 2025 semester are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each Wednesday.
Equipment and Resources
The KPIL is home to a variety of tools and equipment that makers can use to create a wide range of projects.
A laser engraver is a machine that uses a laser beam to precisely engrave and cut designs, text, or images into material. The laser engraver uses 2D digital design files to transfer designs on to the surfaces of objects.
Uses: Personalized projects, signs, arts, model making, prototyping, custom boxes.
A 3D printer creates physical three-dimensional objects from digital designs by adding material layer by layer. The printer uses computer-aided design (CAD) files or 3D scans of objects as the basis for turning your virtual model into a real one.
Uses: Custom models, prototyping, and replacement parts.
A sublimation printer creates paper design transfers that, when applied with heat, will transfer the printed dye onto materials and become permanent as it cools. The printer works similarly to office printers but uses specific ink and paper to make the ink sublimation process work.
Uses: Custom polyester shirts, custom drinkware, custom polyester-based materials, or objects coated for sublimation.
A vinyl cutter is a computer-controlled machine that uses a sharp blade to precisely cut shapes and letters from sheets of vinyl. The vinyl cutter is large enough to create designs and lettering up to 24 inches but also precise enough to cut smaller designs as well.
Uses: Custom signage, custom shirts, custom vinyl decals, personalizing objects.
A Cricut is a smart cutting machine that is similar to a vinyl cutter but is more versatile due to the ability to swap out its cutting head for other tool heads. The Cricut machines use proprietary software that can be used to design and to cut, draw/write on, score, and engrave a variety of different materials such as various types of paper (cardstock, poster board, vinyl, sticker paper), fabric (felt, denim, fleece, bonded fabric), thin wood (balsa, basswood), and leather.
Uses: Personalized gifts, custom apparel, stickers and labels, and papercrafts.
The KPIL is home to a small podcast studio that is the perfect place to record 1 on 1 conversations, voice over, or monologues. The room is set up with sound dampening foam, professional microphones, and an audio mixer to help you get the highest sound quality with minimal effort. Just bring your own computer with sound mixing software and you are ready to go!
The podcast studio also doubles as a VR studio space where you can use a Meta Quest Pro to explore virtual reality. Just roll the audio recording equipment into the closet, put on the headset, and you are ready to get started.
And more!
The KPIL also is home to some more traditional making tools such as:
- Sewing machines
- Hand tools
- Power tools such as a drill, sander, and Dremel.
- Plus, an ever-growing list of specialty tools and kits including kits that have everything you need in a box to try a maker craft. For example, the first one that is currently available is the block print making kit where you can carve out your own custom stamp to create block print.
The tools of the KPIL are ever expanding and with time we will (hopefully) have anything you might need to finish a maker project.
Contact the Lab Director
Clayton GardnerLab Director, Krause Pedagogical Innovation Lab
202C Chambers Building
University Park, PA, 16802
Email: [email protected]