--- title: Project-Based Lesson Ideas by Innovation Specialist, Kris Swanson description: Innovation Specialist Kris Swanson collaborates with core curriculum teachers on lessons that guide student-driven creativity, innovation, and collaboration. image: https://blog.pinecrest.edu/hubfs/Academics/iLabs/Project-Based-Innovation-Specialist-Kris-Swanson.jpg --- [ pine crest school ](https://www.pinecrest.edu/) [#PCFutureReady](https://www.pinecrest.edu/media?SearchExpression=#PCFutureReady) Fort Lauderdale Campus 1501 NE 62nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334 [(954) 492-4100](tel:9544924100) Boca Raton Campus 2700 St. Andrews Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33434 [(561) 852-2800](tel:5618522800) - [inquire](https://www.pinecrest.edu/inquire) - [apply](https://www.pinecrest.edu/apply) - [visit](https://www.pinecrest.edu/visit) # Project-Based Lesson Ideas by Innovation Specialist, Kris Swanson Posted by [Pine Crest School](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/author/pine-crest-school) on February 7, 2018 at 3:52 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) **Student-driven project-based learning in core curriculum class lessons sparks creativity, innovation, and collaboration in The Pine Crest Lab Classroom.** Attendees at [Pine Crest School’s Innovation Institute](https://www.pinecrest.edu/page/academics/educational-design-and-innovation/innovation-institute) had the opportunity to observe Innovation Specialist Kris Swanson working with a class of students in one of our makerspaces, the [Mintz Family iLab](https://www.pinecrest.edu/page/academics/ilabs-at-pine-crest). Kris collaborates with Lower and Middle School classroom teachers on lessons that guide students from play to purpose. Using hands-on learning to harness student-driven creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Project examples include [First Grade Chicken Hatching](https://www.pinecrest.edu/page/news-detail?pk=876763&fromId=191700), [Third Grade Wax Museum](https://www.pinecrest.edu/page/news-detail?pk=821688&fromId=174765), and [Eighth Grade Rocket Launching](https://www.pinecrest.edu/page/news-detail?pk=857073&fromId=191703). ![Project-Based-Innovation-Specialist-Kris-Swanson.jpg](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/hubfs/Academics/iLabs/Project-Based-Innovation-Specialist-Kris-Swanson.jpg) A career educator, Kris has been a teacher for more than 20 years, serving as an elementary school classroom teacher, science lab teacher, and planetarium director. In addition, he has served as an educator fellow for several NASA planetary missions and educational programs. In fall 2017, Kris presented for the Center for Research in Education at the [FabLearn 2017](http://stanford2017.fablearn.org/workshops/) Conference at Stanford University. He shared with educators from all over the world techniques that allow students to rapidly prototype physical objects as part of their design thinking process. At the Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) in January, Kris was asked by Florida’s Department of Education to facilitate three discussion group sessions on the planning and implementation of STEM programs and initiatives. While at FETC, he presented “Arduino 101: Microcontrollers You and Your Students Can Program” and “Student-Built Smart Projects.” ![Collaborative-learning_Kris-Lexi-Ari.jpg](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Academics/iLabs/Collaborative-learning_Kris-Lexi-Ari.jpg?width=423&height=281&name=Collaborative-learning_Kris-Lexi-Ari.jpg) Over the last decade, Kris has built robots, submarines, motorized toys, electronics projects, and other amazing things with his students at Pine Crest and at [Young Makers Lab](http://youngmakerslab.com), a small business co-founded in 2014. Kris received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of South Florida and a Masters of Arts in Instructional Technology from Pepperdine University. He is excited to share his love to innovate and teach with our Innovation Institute participants!   [![DOWNLOAD CONFERENCE SCHEDULE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3951591/1a89401a-811d-4897-bb6b-0b870ae7e9c7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3951591/1a89401a-811d-4897-bb6b-0b870ae7e9c7)     Follow Kris Swanson [@krswanson](http://www.twitter.com/krswanson) Follow Pine Crest School [@PineCrestSch](https://twitter.com/PineCrestSch) ### Subscribe Here! ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Tag - [Alumni (93)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/alumni) - [Upper School (61)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/upper-school) - [Faculty (46)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/faculty) - [The Magazine (41)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/the-magazine) - [Student Life (36)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/student-life) - [Academics (33)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/academics) - [Innovation (33)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/innovation) - [2020 (30)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2020) - [2025 (30)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2025) - [Athletics (30)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/athletics) - [Middle School (30)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/middle-school) - [Giving (29)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/giving) - [Pine Crest School (28)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/pine-crest-school) - [2024 (24)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2024) - [Alumni Newsletter (24)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/alumni-newsletter) - [Fine Arts (24)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/fine-arts) - [Student Leadership (20)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/student-leadership) - [Lower School (18)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/lower-school) - [Entrepreneurship (17)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/entrepreneurship) - [Science (17)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/science) - [2019 (15)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2019) - [2023 (13)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2023) - [Admission (13)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/admission) - [COVID-19 (13)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/covid-19) - [2021 (12)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2021) - [2022 (12)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2022) - [2026 (11)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2026) - [Design Thinking (11)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/design-thinking) - [2018 (10)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/2018) - [STEM (9)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/stem) - [Social and Emotional Learning (9)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/social-and-emotional-learning) - [Pre-kindergarten (8)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/pre-kindergarten) - [Pine Crest Fund (7)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/pine-crest-fund) - [Future Ready (6)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/future-ready) - [Innovation Institute (6)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/innovation-institute) - [Panther Impact Week (5)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/panther-impact-week) - [Pine Crest Summer (5)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/pine-crest-summer) - [Robotics (5)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/robotics) - [Computer Science (4)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/computer-science) - [News (4)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/news) - [Panther Pulse (4)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/panther-pulse) - [Student Success (3)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/student-success) - [Dance (2)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/dance) - [Financial Aid (2)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/financial-aid) - [Fine Motor Skills (2)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/fine-motor-skills) - [Freshmen (2)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/freshmen) - [Music (2)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/music) - [outdoor learning (2)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/outdoor-learning) - [Campus Safety (1)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/campus-safety) - [Community Service (1)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/community-service) - [Digital Media Production (1)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/digital-media-production) - [emergent leadership (1)](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/tag/emergent-leadership) [See all](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/project-based-lesson-ideas-by-innovation-specialist-kris-swanson#) ## Start Your Future Today Imagine the possibilities @PineCrestSch - - - - - - - [my pine crest](https://pinecrest.myschoolapp.com/app#login) Lower School Grades PK - 5 Middle School Grades 6 - 8 Upper School Grades 9 - 12 Fort Lauderdale Campus 1501 NE 62nd Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334 [(954) 492-4100](tel:9544924100) Boca Raton Campus 2700 St. Andrews Boulevard Boca Raton, Florida 33434 [(561) 852-2800](tel:5618522800) Imagine the possibilities @PineCrestSch - - - - - - - [Back to top ](https://blog.pinecrest.edu/project-based-lesson-ideas-by-innovation-specialist-kris-swanson#top)