Ooltewah Middle School
Lab description
Grade Levels:
6-8
Ooltewah Middle School’s VW eLab is a dynamic workshop where creativity and technology intersect. Students learn 3D modeling, coding and design using tools like TinkerCAD and Prusa 3D printers. In this collaborative space, they tackle open‑ended challenges, build prototypes and develop the teamwork and critical‑thinking skills that will serve them in STEM fields and beyond.
VW eLab Specialist
Aisha Chavez
Alisha Chavez is a fifth‑year educator starting her first year in the VW eLab. Her diverse teaching background includes Career Explorations, Criminal Justice and Forensic Science. She is passionate about helping middle schoolers discover career pathways and develop the soft skills they will need to succeed. In the VW eLab she guides students through projects that connect their passions to real‑world possibilities.
Lab Impact
Ooltewah Middle School’s VW eLab is a dynamic workshop where creativity and technology intersect. Students learn 3D modeling, coding and design using TinkerCAD, Prusa 3D printers, laser cutters and vinyl cutters. In this collaborative space, they tackle open‑ended challenges, build prototypes and develop teamwork and critical‑thinking skills that serve them in STEM fields and beyond. The curriculum builds skills each year. Sixth graders start with the design process, building bridges from everyday materials to explore physics, iteration and persistence, then move into 3D modelling and printing their own designs. Seventh graders focus on digital content creation. They learn web design and safely operate laser and vinyl cutters while pairing projects with computer science. By eighth grade, students dive deeper into career exploration. Using advanced tools such as 3D printers, laser, CNC, embroidery and vinyl machines, they complete projects tied to high‑school pathways in culinary, health, justice and business. Math concepts like measurement and geometry come alive as students design and print models, while science is reinforced through experiments and engineering design. Students strengthen literacy by reflecting and presenting their work. Beyond academics, the eLab teaches collaboration, communication and resilience—skills that prepare students for high school, college and the workplace. By exposing middle schoolers to a wide range of career pathways, the VW eLab empowers them to make informed choices about their futures and to see themselves as innovators.
Project Highlights
Hands‑on projects drive learning at Ooltewah Middle School’s VW eLab. Sixth graders begin with design thinking, building bridges from straws and sticks to explore weight distribution and geometry. They then design and print personalized name tags and models that connect to science and social studies. Seventh graders emphasize digital content. They learn web design and code simple games, then create laser‑cut art and vinyl graphics tied to social studies and personal interests. Eighth graders explore career pathways. In culinary modules they design cookie cutters and restaurant layouts; in health science they print anatomical models and cut templates for simulations; in criminal justice they build fingerprinting kits and crime scene models; and in business modules they design products to sell at a school market. Across grades, students learn to operate 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers and vinyl cutters. They calculate area and volume, convert units and test hypotheses, integrating math and science. Research, reflection and presentation connect projects to literacy. Collaboration builds social‑emotional skills as students practice listening, conflict resolution and feedback. Community partners such as police officers, nurses, chefs and business owners visit to demonstrate careers and mentor teams. Students design signage and decorations for school events, create banners for sports teams and produce gifts for feeder elementary schools. At the end of each module, they host exhibitions to present projects to families and partners and reflect on what they learned. Over three years, students build portfolios documenting their growth in technical and soft skills and leave middle school ready for high‑school programs.