Atlanta Public Schools Unlocks the Future of Learning
We’re honored to collaborate with APS and Verizon to provide tools that help unlock student curiosity and inspiration, and help build critical future skills.
A new wave of hands-on, immersive learning has arrived at Atlanta Public Schools (APS)! We are thrilled to see Sylvan Hills Middle School celebrate the grand opening of its new Verizon Innovative Learning Lab, an initiative designed to expand STEM education and provide access to transformative technology.
Allison M. Slocum
This lab is part of a national effort by Verizon, in collaboration with partners like Heart of America and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University (ASU), to help prepare students for the future workforce. The new space provides students with hands-on experiences in robotics, virtual reality, 3D design, augmented reality, and coding.
Bringing Learning to Life with Augmented Reality
At the heart of this lab's hands-on approach is the power to take learning off the textbook page and put it directly into students' hands. Krynica Drake, Content Integration Specialist-Math & Science, said this is especially evident with the "powerful augmented reality tool[s]" available to students, including both the "nifty little cube" (Merge Cube) for individual exploration and a "jumbo cube" (Mega Merge Cube) for group interaction.
This technology is a game-changer for student engagement. Instead of just reading about a concept, students can now hold, move, and manipulate a 3D, tactile object. Krynica noted how the "experiential learning" brings the curriculum to life, and that the "hands-on" method is crucial because students need to "manipulate" and "move" things for the concepts to "really stick".
A Hub for STEM and Future-Ready Skills
The lab is a natural fit for Sylvan Hills, which is already a STEM/STEAM-focused school. Principal Dr. Larry Guilford emphasized the lab's role in extending this focus. "We are a STEM/STEAM school, so this gives us the opportunity to continue utilizing technology with our students,” Dr. Guilford said.
“The students can do a lot of hands-on work right here in this lab, and they will do things that will improve our achievement scores in math and science.”
This space isn't just about the technology itself; it's about building critical skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation.
A Partnership for the Future
Jerome Cheatham, Verizon’s vice president of the Atlantic South Market, noted that the lab represents more than just a technological investment. “We want students to live out their dreams and have the technology to do that," he said. "Investing in students does that for us, and this is just a part of what we do.”
The Sylvan Hills lab is one of five new Verizon Innovative Learning Labs opened in APS this school year, joining others at Ralph Bunche Middle School, The B.E.S.T. Academy, John Lewis Invictus Academy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.
This commitment is part of Verizon's goal to reach 10 million students nationwide by 2030, supported by a commitment of more than $1 billion toward digital inclusion in education.
Merge EDU
As students at Sylvan Hills begin to code, design, and create in their new lab, they’re not just preparing for high school; they’re being prepared for a global society and the careers of tomorrow. We are proud to be a part of this incredible journey to create equitable, technology-rich learning environments for every student.
“Merge EDU is excited to be a partner in this transformative initiative with Atlanta Public Schools,” says Franklin Lyons, Founder of Merge. “Seeing our augmented reality tools, including the Merge Cube and the Mega Merge Cube, integrated into the Verizon Innovative Learning Lab is a proud moment for us."
Our mission has always been to make learning tactile, engaging, effective, and fun, and this lab is a perfect example of that vision in action, bringing concepts from anatomy to earth science to life. We’re honored to collaborate with APS and Verizon to provide tools that help unlock student curiosity and inspiration, and help build critical future skills. And we look forward to a continued partnership, supporting Atlanta's educators and students as they use this innovative space to design, create, and iterate for years to come.
