The Playful Learning Lab, a faculty-led research lab at St. Thomas, aims to continue collaboration with the Minnesota Children’s Museum to facilitate community inclusion and acceptance of deaf students in K-12 education with Deaf Day, started in November 2022.
Melissa Ingabire, PLL student researcher and Deaf Education team member, created the concept of Deaf Day to attract more people from the deaf community to the museum.
“(The deaf community should) be able to come to museums and have an experience just like any other kid or parent can have with their children,” Ingabire said.
Ingabire created the concept of Deaf Day after learning American Sign Language at the Metro Deaf School. She went to the founder and co-director of the PLL, AnnMarie Thomas, with the idea that members of the deaf community should be able to come to the museum and communicate in a way they are comfortable with.
“It started with just me and research students and over the years it’s grown so we often have 20 or more paid undergraduate students working in the lab,” Thomas said.
The PLL focuses on the intersection of art and technology for students in K-12 education. The lab aims to create more playful elements in education, such as working with different dance groups, circuses, and restaurants around the Twin Cities, according to Thomas.
“I am really grateful for the lab. PLL has been the program that’s the highlight of my time here,” Ingabire said.
Ingabire, a St. Thomas student, started working with the PLL because of her interest in STEM. This allowed her to get involved with the Metro Deaf School, where she learned how to interact with deaf students.
According to Thomas, the PLL has worked with the Metro Deaf School for many years. They’ve collaborated on helping in classrooms, writing curriculum and Twin Cities Public Television, creating an episode of “SciGirls.” The PLL was searching for new experiences for the students, which led to its connection with the Minnesota Children’s Museum.
Deaf Day consisted of students from the Metro Deaf School leading activities for kids to participate in while learning ASL and about the deaf community. The event also helped foster relationships between the hearing impaired and people of hearing.
As the planning of the next Deaf Day starts, the PLL staff would like to hear from students with ideas on how to improve the event.
“Reach out if you’re interested in the lab and let us know and we can connect you to some opportunities,” Thomas said.
Thomas added that students interested in PLL can apply through the St. Thomas student employment site.
“It wasn’t just for deaf attendees. It was a chance for any attendee, in any family, to interact with some of the awesome folks from our community,” Thomas said.
Abby Madsen can be reached at mads3817@stthomas.edu.