There was little to no fanfare when the learning lab the Collaboratory opened last semester, almost a year after the idea was proposed. The lab was set up to be a functional and comfortable place for students to work and receive help with their harder subjects, particularly those in the STEM field. Now after about half a year of operating, the lab has accumulated a plethora of useful tools and equipment for students and is finally ready for a grand opening.
Any student with a Del Mar College ID can enter the modern-looking lab, located on the third floor of the Venters Building, and be greeted with a vast array of technology and tools such as Mac computers, Surface Pros, textbooks, scientific calculators, AP models and a Clear Touch board that students are encouraged to use. There are even assistants available to teach students how to use the technology.
Adriana King/Foghorn
The Collaboratory lab opened last semester to offer STEM students assistance and a comfortable place to study. The lab is open to all students with a Del Mar College ID.
“We want students to feel out of the classroom but still in school,” said Jennifer Gonzales, Title V STEM project coordinator. “We tried to make it an attention grabbing and interactive space. We want students to use our interactive resources and tools with their own style of learning.”
While students can use the computers, lounge in the open area or work together in one of the media escape rooms, the lab also offers nine tutors and four lab assistants.
“What’s neat about it is that tutoring is not the focus, it’s an option,” Gonzales said. “They can work independently, in a peer study group, or opt for one-on-one tutoring and homework help.”
So for anyone struggling to stay afloat amid a stressful semester, students of all majors and are welcome to come and thrive at the Collaboratory, which is open all weekdays.
“There’s a bit of everything here,” Gonzales said. “We offer students things they may not have outside of school, and this is the perfect place to come.”
The grand opening takes place from 1-3 p.m. April 6.
