Innovation Programs

AIS students are perfectly poised to innovate and there are opportunities across the whole school to challenge their boundaries of thinking and creativity.

See just a selection of what is on offer below.

AIS Innovators

At AlS, everyone is an educator and to ensure our students have ever more engaging, authentic and meaningful experiences across all grade levels and disciplines, we have created the AlS Innovators program that encourages all members of staff to participate in these cohorts. The cohorts of 12 to 20 AlS staff collaborate in designing impactful, innovative, and authentic learning spaces and experiences to promote the joy of learning.

Da Vinci Fellowship

Our Goizueta Da Vinci Fellowship allows AIS to invite distinguished STEAM practitioners to AIS to develop cross-curricular workshops and learning experiences that combine excellence in science and engineering with diverse perspectives in design and the arts. Corinne Takara, one of AIS’ Da Vinci Fellows, conducted workshops from preschool to upper school focused on integrating sustainability into the curriculum. Takara also offered training for faculty and engaging and creative workshops open to parents.

IHOT Robotics

Lunch & Learn

Our STEAM Lunch and Learn program is designed to give students the chance to learn about various STEAM fields and careers and gain insight into potential future career options. This is an informal talk over lunch where our students can learn from guest speakers about what they do day-to-day and a little about their educational and career paths. Students learn about our speaker’s day to day work in their field, their interests, current projects, and journey to their careers. We welcome about ten guest speakers throughout the school year, who talk at our Middle School and Upper School sessions.

Space Program

The AIS Space Program allows students to apply STEAM concepts to real and complex experiments that can connect them to a universal perspective. This premier program for AIS utilizes deep partnerships, most notably with researchers at NASA, Mercer University, Stanford, Georgia Tech, and MIT. Throughout the year, students can engineer and conduct experiments that launch into low-earth orbit and run on the International Space Station. Our Eaglenauts also share their learning with others in the community by providing space workshops for Horizons and youth groups.

Summer Internship Program

The innovative AIS Summer Internship Program provides rising Grade 11 and 12 students with a two-week unpaid summer internship or job shadow at businesses and institutions in the US or abroad. Internships help our students integrate and bridge knowledge and skills learned at school to opportunities in an industry they are interested in pursuing as future careers or professions.

AIS encourages all students, not just those who are pursuing a STEM or STEAM graduation IB Diploma endorsement to seek internship experience.

WAIS-TV

STEM Experiential Learning and Early Grades (3K-5)

Kindergarten (3K - 5K): Hands-on exploration begins with basic tools and safety skills in the Fab Lab, and early coding introduction using Bee Bots. They investigate science topics with biosustainable materials like algae.
Grade 1: Focus on agency-building through tinkering and the design-thinking cycle.
Grade 2: Real-world design thinking projects, like solving issues tied to recent events, e.g., hurricane relief projects.
Grade 3: Expansion into more technology, such as maker kits, and applying STEM concepts to problem-solving within the school.
Grade 4: Space and nature-themed projects, including machine learning basics, water testing, and AI exposure.
Grade 5: Comprehensive projects integrating tools like Canva, podcasting, and bioengineering, paired with coding activities for science concepts such as gravity, energy, and anatomy.

Middle and Upper School

Grade 6: Introductory projects to prepare for advanced design and computer science. The "Tiny Home Project" combines STEAM, innovation, and sustainable design.
Grades 7 and above: Robust programs in advanced science and math, computer science, and an MYP/DP Design program. This prepares students for higher education, often placing them in their top-choice colleges. The curriculum includes Robotics, with teams reaching world competitions, and additional offerings in Product and Digital Design.

Extracurriculars and Special Programs

Robotics (PS, MS, SS), STEM internships, STEM Olympiads (Math Olympiad, Science Olympiad, Math Kangaroo).
Entrepreneurship Program - The Nest: Allows students to work on startup ideas with industry mentors, providing real-world business experience.
Innovators Program and Inventure with GA Tech, where students create and pitch solutions for cash prizes.
Space Club: High school students design experiments for the International Space Station.
Lunch and Learns: Monthly sessions for middle and high schoolers with STEM professionals.
Girls in STEM Initiatives: Programs and events aimed at increasing STEM access for underrepresented groups, including the school’s first Girls in STEM Conference.

Unique Programs and Community Support

Clubs: Opportunities to create new clubs (e.g., AI, coding, investment) with faculty sponsors.
STEM/Innovation Focus: High-quality, accessible STEM resources and experiences throughout all grades, preparing students for college and careers in STEM fields.

The school integrates STEM deeply within both curricular and extracurricular contexts, ensuring students have well-rounded, real-world experience. The alignment with UN sustainability goals, real-world problem solving, and extensive project-based learning highlights a commitment to impactful education.

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