Greensboro Middle School will soon be at the forefront of providing advanced STEM opportunities for its students with the grand opening of its first Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Lab. The school invites the community to come celebrate this milestone on Aug. 27 at 10 a.m.
“This lab is a transformative addition for both our students and community. It unlocks new possibilities for learning and creativity that we’ve never experienced before,” said Principal of Greensboro Middle Anthony Sanders. “We are deeply grateful to our partners and look forward to the future with great anticipation.”
The lab was made possible by a generous award from the Air University K-12 STEM Outreach Program, which aims to “inspire, cultivate, and develop exceptional STEM talent” by providing resources to underserved communities. This mission is reflected in the program’s investment in the AR/VR lab, which will also support the development of the next generation of STEM leaders.
The University of Alabama’s Drs. Dominic Combs and Hope Drummonds-Whiteside were instrumental in bringing the lab to Greensboro, helping strengthen the partnership between UA, Air University, and Greensboro Middle School through their vision and dedication. Both Combs and Drummonds-Whiteside are part of the UA Office of Interdisciplinary STEM Education Research (ISER).
“Our collaboration demonstrates the power of united efforts towards a common goal,” said Drummonds-Whiteside, a STEM education research specialist with the Alabama Transportation Institute. “We are eager to see how this will inspire students to pursue STEM careers and positively impact the broader community.”
Greensboro Middle’s AR/VR lab will feature 10 advanced working stations that will immerse more than 200 students in sixth through eighth grade in cutting-edge virtual reality technology. This will enable students to create and explore their own virtual experiences, offering new opportunities for learning and creativity.
“This lab is more than just a technological innovation; it’s a catalyst for transformation,” said Dr. Combs, ISER director of evaluation and a clinical assistant professor of evaluation research.