East Ridge High School
Lab description
Grade Levels:
9-12
At East Ridge High School, the VW eLab is a collaborative fabrication hub where students from construction, computer science, health sciences and the arts design and produce real‑world solutions. By building prototypes and tackling interdisciplinary challenges, they gain hands‑on skills and confidence. Integrated across career and technical education, STEM and the arts, the lab fosters student agency and prepares them for diverse career paths.
VW eLab Specialist
Zachery Knight
Mr. Knight leads the technical side of East Ridge’s VW eLab. Over the summer, he and his students built the CNC router and helped set up the new lab that is now shared by construction, computer science, health science and automotive departments. Each department has a teacher advocate to integrate lab experiences and coordinate projects, ensuring the VW eLab impacts the entire school.
Lab Impact
East Ridge High School’s VW eLab is new this school year, but it’s already transforming learning. Over the summer, Mr. Knight and his students built the CNC router and set up the lab, taking ownership from day one. Rather than being run by a single facilitator, the VW eLab is a collaborative hub where teachers from construction, computer science, health sciences, art and academic subjects design interdisciplinary projects. Students from different programs share tools, learn from one another and see how skills apply across careers. Even before official projects launch, classes buzz with ideas. Construction students propose building a wheelchair‑accessible ramp linking buildings. Computer science students envision coding art installations. Health science classes plan to 3D‑print anatomical models and assistive devices. Automotive classes retrofit vehicles with LED lighting systems, learning soldering and circuitry. English and history classes plan to fabricate objects inspired by literature and social studies, such as lanterns or maps. The lab is also a place where students learn soft skills. They work in teams, manage schedules, communicate with clients and reflect on their process. Collaboration encourages them to share expertise and seek feedback. The message is clear: every student can design, build and solve problems, and the eLab exists to help them realize that potential. As projects roll out, the eLab will become a cornerstone of East Ridge’s career pathways, giving students a place to experiment, collaborate and see themselves as innovators.
Project Highlights
In its first year, East Ridge High’s VW eLab buzzes with cross‑disciplinary projects. Automotive students learn soldering and circuitry by retrofitting cars with LED systems. Computer science students team up with English and art to code interactive poetry and laser‑cut stage props. Health science classes use 3D printers and laser cutters to create anatomical models and adaptive tools. Construction classes operate the CNC router, laser cutter and 3D printers to fabricate parts and architectural models. They are also designing an accessible ramp linking campus buildings, researching codes, building scale models and presenting proposals. Art students explore laser‑cut sculptures, vinyl decals and mixed‑media pieces. Business students develop branding for lab products and learn about marketing and client relations. Teachers plan projects together: one pairs health science and engineering to build a greenhouse that doubles as a biology lab; another blends art, science and computer science to create an animated logo and 3D‑printed mascot. Students take on service projects by creating braille signage for the library, cutting awards for district competitions and producing custom items for school clubs. Local businesses propose challenges like portable speaker cabinets and display stands. The eLab hosts open‑house events where students share their work with families and mentors. They also join district challenges designing go‑karts or nursing stations, which require budgeting, prototyping and presentations. Mentors from the Fab Lab network guide career exploration. Through these projects, students gain confidence using technology, collaborating across disciplines and managing real clients and deadlines. They see their skills have value beyond the classroom and that careers in construction, health, computer science, art and engineering are within reach. East Ridge High’s VW eLab highlights show how quickly a new space can become the heart of hands‑on learning.