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Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) unveiled a redesigned, technology-rich Innovation Space at Norland Middle School. The new space includes an interactive floor and new furniture in an open area where students can engage in creative group activities.
“These innovation spaces are a testament to the power of public-private partnerships and how together, we can really make a difference for our students,” said Chief Academic Officer Lourdes Diaz. “Students, I really hope that you come here and collaborate and innovate and explore, really let your curiosity run wild with all of the new technology that is here.”
In addition to Ms. Diaz, School Board member Steve Gallon III, North Region Superintendent Dr. Yesenia Aponte, Chief Communications Officer Jacquelyn C. Diaz, District representatives, Norland Middle School Principal Sacha T. Challenger, staff, teachers, and students attended the unveiling.
The Innovation Space features an open-concept area and a Makerspace with robotics, arts and crafts, hands-on technology, and board games, as well as a gaming station and an interactive floor for students to explore and enjoy various activities and learning games on their feet.
The media center redesign included adding modular, comfortable furniture for students to relax and accommodate a variety of uses, as well as a high-top table that seats students with their laptops for studying or playing games.
“I’m so excited that my kids got an innovative space. It has different components,” said Dr. Challenger. “We have a computer hub, we have gaming stations, robotics, and a Makerspace area where the kids can make different items and different projects. We also have a place where the kids can come in, do work, look out the window to see our beautiful garden, and socialize and be students.”
The redesign includes new, large windows throughout the Innovation Space as well as new shelving for books. The area is also equipped with flip-and-nest tables, which can be used for classroom instruction and then quickly and efficiently stored when not in use, maximizing and maintaining an open space for other activities.
The students were amazed by the kinds of activities that are available to them now. “This Innovation Space is fun for students but also helps them learn stuff like the snap circuits; that’s engineering,” said seventh-grader Sephora Stenor, who helped get the Innovation Space ready for the big day. “With two simple batteries and a few circuits, you can make sounds emitted from them. Before this, I never knew these snap circuits existed. Now I can come in here, use the laptops to do work, and read a book about something that I’m stuck on in class.”
Other students are impressed by the difference between the old library and their new, high-tech hybrid of library and technology playground.
“I was amazed by the space they created from the old one,” said eighth-grader Jodie Hernandez. “I like the new activities they have, like the active floor. As you touch the floor, there are multiple games on it, and you can just use your feet to tap.”
The initiative, which is creating 18 Innovation Spaces for middle school students over the course of two years, is supported by a $2 million partnership between M-DCPS, the College Football Playoff
Foundation, the 2026 Miami Host Committee, and the Orange Bowl Committee.
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