The Eiffel Tower builds slowly, formed of blue plastic as a 3D printer clicks and whirs around it, adding layer upon layer and bringing a miniature version of one of Earth’s modern marvels into the world.
Tucked into a room in the Collin College Frisco Campus library, next to virtual reality equipment, a selection of microcomputers and an area for green screen recording, the 3D printer is used by students and staff alike to create the stuff of dreams. Relatively new to Collin College campuses, “makerspace” areas like the one in Frisco are available to students thanks to the college’s Innovation Challenge, a program designed to encourage faculty and staff to contribute ideas intended to improve students’ educational experience at Collin. From suggestions on how to improve the college catalog and the installation of free-standing device charging stations across the district to the reintroduction of intramural sports at major campuses, the program keeps students’ needs at the forefront of district employees’ minds.
That spirit of ingenuity and innovation permeates the college beyond the Innovation Challenge, driving faculty and administrators to consider new ideas and putting in motion programs which have succeeded at other educational institutions. Geology professors build augmented reality sandboxes to help students visualize geographic changes in three dimensions. Theatre and Dance department faculty work together to bring a first-ever collaboration to the stage. Team-based learning classrooms encourage students to develop cooperative skills and self-driven preparation.
Whether first introduced as an Innovation Challenge proposal or developed through regular academic processes, the outcomes are changing the lives of Collin College students and, in some cases, the educations of area high school students. College and career counselors now work with the counseling staffs of every major school district in Collin County, helping students plan their futures and offering advice on how to maximize their efforts. The college has dedicated itself to creating clear pathways for students into higher education, including a massive expansion of dual credit opportunities that enable students to earn most or all of an associate degree while still in high school.
The district will open the Collin College Technical Campus in Allen in the fall of 2020, offering training in high-demand, high-wage careers that are expected to drive the growth of Collin County.
Formed decision by decision and innovation upon innovation, Collin College is building an educational environment every Collin County resident can be proud of. A miniature blue Eiffel Tower in Frisco is just the start.
For more information, visit Collin.edu.
This article originally appeared in the Frisco Chamber of Commerce 2019 Referral and Relocation Guide.