​Altamira International School (AIS) is an exemplary school in Latin America, highly recognized for its academic excellence and innovative educational practice, which allows its students to LEARN WITH PURPOSE, SERVE WITH PASSION and LEAD WITH THE HEART to change our world for the better.
The AIS INNOVATION CENTER is a cross-functional multispace for our learning community to research and develop STEAM projects for sustainability in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
What is STEAM education?
STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) to enhance students' critical and creative thinking skills and help them become innovators in an ever-evolving world.
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We include the arts in STEAM.
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Liberal arts (from latin liberalis "free" and ars "art or principled practice")
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Fine art (developed primarily for aesthetics or beauty)
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Applied art (which also has to serve some practical function)
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Using STEAM education results in students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process.
These are the innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st century!
AIS Project Life Cycle Model
Our project life cycle is called IDEA, an acronym for Inquire, Development, Execution and Assessment, as the steps to research and develop technologies for innovation in a sustainability framework.
Our Goals
We Innovate for Sustainability
As stated by UNESCO, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), “empowers learners of all ages with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to address the interconnected global challenges we are facing, including climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, poverty and inequality."
We are Part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution!
As stated by the World Economic Forum, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work and relate to one another. It is a new chapter in human development, enabled by extraordinary technology advances commensurate with those of the first, second and third industrial revolutions.
Activities
By using Design Thinking as a framework for our class methodology, we have been developing a variety of projects and activities with our students that delve into the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, in order to pursue innovative and user-based solutions to the identified challenges.
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Currently, we are working with second through twelve grades on multiple projects framed by the SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption.
The building has 3 floors within an area of 1.500 m2.
It is divided into 35 spaces of which 26 are for experiential learning:​
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Knowledge Lab
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Virtual Reality Lab
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Ideation Lab
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Design Lab
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Maker spaces and Fab Labs
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Coding and Robotics Lab
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Chemistry Lab
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Biology Lab
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Physics Lab
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Music Hall
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Orchestra Room
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Rock Band Room
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Arts Hall
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AV Lab
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Sustainability Lab
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Main Stage for Multiple Activities