Innovative Pop-Up Makerspace Comes to Three Rivers Community College

A pop-up makerspace has taken over The Gallery at Three Rivers for the month of September. The makerspace, which was installed in the last weeks of August, holds fifty pounds of white Legos, two-thousand KEVA Planks, and a visual arts station for innovation. The intent of the makerspace is to promote active learning, team building, and multidisciplinary approaches to inquiry and creating. Faculty have been invited and encouraged to hold classes in the space and adapt the materials and hands-on learning into their curricula.

Professor of Early Childhood Education Sheila Skahan introduced the idea of the pop-up makerspace to Three Rivers. She was inspired by “Sparks,” the makerspace in New London, an exhibit at MoMA, and the experience of bringing her own class to the Three Rivers Community College manufacturing lab to help them visualize blueprints for flexible classroom seating. Skahan wanted to expand the experiential learning opportunities at Three Rivers and formed a committee to bring it to fruition.

The Three Rivers Foundation funded the project, which created a highly visible, beautiful space that gives faculty an opportunity to introduce experiential learning into the classroom. Sandra Jeknavorian, Professor of Art and Gallery Director, was open to the concept and has created the visual innovations. Skahan explained, “Faculty can incorporate the space and tools into their own disciplines or use it as a community builder within their classroom time.”

The makerspace will be incorporated into classes in different ways depending on the subject and curriculum.  Students will work closely to create structural forms to facilitate imaginations and higher-order thinking.

• Mike Gentry, Assistant Professor of Engineer, passionate about experiential learning and robotics, will be hosting a two-week LEGO contest. The LEGOS are white which will allow students to focus on form.
• One public speaking class is going to allow students to create a mock “Shark Tank.”  Students will collaborate in small groups to create a prototype item and then will spend two classes “pitching” their ideas as a form of persuasive speech.
• The makerspace committee will host tours and lectures on the role and intent of makerspaces. After the five weeks have elapsed, the Legos and KEVA Planks will be available to borrow from the library so classes can continue to embrace active learning.

The grand opening for the makerspace will be held on Wednesday, September 5 from 12:30-1:30 pm. Students are can use the space outside of class Monday through Thursday from 12:30-1:30 pm, and the public is invited to several guest-speaker sessions. On Thursday, September 6 at 12:30 pm, Kem Barfield will give a “Google Tilt Brush Presentation.” On Wednesday, September 12 at 6:00 pm, Casey Moran and John Curran, both involved in New London’s makerspace, will present “Building Makerspaces in your Community;” and Family Night will be held on Wednesday, September 19 from 5:00-7:00 pm for the community to visit and create with their families.

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New Fully Online General Studies Associate Degree Now Available for one of the Lowest Tuition Rates in the Country

Three Rivers Community College is excited to announce its first fully online degree program, General Studies, A.S., which begins August 28. With online courses that can fit every schedule and one of the lowest college tuitions in the country, this new program can either jump start students on a career or provide a direct pathway to a bachelor’s degree. Residents of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island are all eligible for this low in-state tuition rate.

The General Studies degree program offers a broad focus that allows students to remain engaged in their coursework by studying favorite subjects as well as subjects that are new to them. The open framework and ability to explore academically can inspire students to move in new directions and continue on to a bachelor’s degree program of their choice. The degree program is a perfect stepping-stone for continuing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The multidisciplinary approach of the general studies program, combined with how students select coursework based on their interests and career goals, make this option an excellent way to prepare for further study. Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski adds, “The general studies online degree program provides a flexible schedule for students who have busy lives to earn a college degree in a manner that is convenient and affordable.”

Three Rivers graduates can continue to learn online and pursue a bachelor’s degree at Charter Oak State College. Charter Oak is 100% online and accepts every credit from Three Rivers associate degrees. Charter Oak also has a special agreement with Three Rivers that allows students who have earned their associate degrees to attend for their junior and senior year at the community college tuition rate. A student can complete their first two years and earn an associate degree at Three Rivers for less than $9,000 and then go on to earn a bachelor’s degree for an additional $9,000. In total, they will have earned a bachelor’s degree for less than $18,000 at current rates, and that is before subtracting financial aid.

Three Rivers and, through the partnership, Charter Oak are incredibly affordable online options. Many schools offer online learning, but Three Rivers is accredited, a member of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and offers one of the lowest tuitions in the country. One credit at Three Rivers is only $244, which is significantly less than $320 at the University of Southern New Hampshire, $398 at the University of Phoenix or $570 at the Post University. Financial aid further reduces costs, and sixty-seven percent of Three Rivers students receive financial aid.

The General Studies program is available both on campus and online, so why enroll in this new fully online program? For many the biggest obstacle to going back to school is time. Life is busy. Whether working, raising a family or both, finding the time to take classes can seem impossible. With online classes, students can fit education into their schedule, learning at home when it works for them. Online students still benefit from Three Rivers student support services, online academic advising and tutoring, financial aid experts, career services and more.

The new fully online General Studies associate degree program begins this fall. Classes start August 28, so there is still time to enroll. Learn more by visiting threerivers.edu/online or call 860-215-9016.

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