On a busy afternoon at Range Lake North School, studentsSA国际影视传媒� eyes dart toward a screen in Darryl MitchenerSA国际影视传媒檚 class as the technology teacher dishes instructions on programming a Sphero to move in a square around the room.

Minutes later, the students are testing out their precision, drawing lines on an iPad app that tell the little round robots to move through a green maze laid out on the floor.

Meanwhile, students in another corner of the room connect an iPad to a LEGO guitar that blares with electric sounds.

MitchenerSA国际影视传媒檚 tech classroom is expected to become an even greater hub for youthful creativity by the spring. Right now, heSA国际影视传媒檚 in the midst of turning half of it into a makerspace SA国际影视传媒� an area where students will experiment with different technologies and shape their own learning. The other half will remain a computer lab.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a bunch of us that decided it would be kind of neat to have,SA国际影视传媒� said Mitchener of how the idea for the makerspace came about. SA国际影视传媒淲e plan on having some woodworking, 3D printing.SA国际影视传媒�

Mitchener, who is also assistant principal at the school, teaches students in junior kindergarten to Grade 8 about programming, coding, robotics and Google apps through his technology class.

The goal of the makerspace is to get more students using their hands and thinking creatively.

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes (with) programming and coding, you just follow a process,SA国际影视传媒� Mitchener explained, but with a makerspace, SA国际影视传媒測ou design things.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淵ou can be creative and use your imagination to build things.SA国际影视传媒�

The idea has also taken off at YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Catholic school board, although Mitchener said Range Lake North School came up with the idea for its makerspace independently.

Weledeh Catholic School opened a makerspace classroom in the fall of 2016 and St. Patrick High School followed suit in February.

But all the fun isnSA国际影视传媒檛 without purpose.

The technologies students are using are applicable to their curriculum.

Range Lake North students have programmed Spheros to make right angle triangles using the Pythagorean theorem, Mitchener said, adding they could apply math and science skills to build and design bridges in the makerspace.

SA国际影视传媒淭eachers have to be creative too, to get the kids to buy in,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut I think with the robotics and the programming, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a pretty easy buy-in.SA国际影视传媒�

MitchenerSA国际影视传媒檚 students are constantly asking what theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to learn next in his technology class and have enjoyed programming and coding, he said.

The classroom is just about ready for the makerspace, with a larger area available in the room than last year, Mitchener said.

It even has a LEGO wall where students will be able to design their own projects.

Mitchener said the school is still in the process of deciding what other gadgets to order to populate the class.

A 3D printer is on the wish list, while Mitchener ordered a sand-blasting cabinet last month that students can use to design etchings on glass.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have a lot of things on order right now,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e just have to wait for it to come in and kind of put things into place.SA国际影视传媒�

Mitchener said he hopes the makerspace class will be ready by March so parents, staff and trustees can explore the new environment during an open house.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to make it fun and for kids to be creative and use their imagination,SA国际影视传媒� he said.