“Exploring how and why we learn through experiential and maker-based learning.”
Robert Gould, Founder & Director, EXL Lab
A Disruptive
& Evolving Landscape
Most high school and college graduates will navigate multiple careers, often different from their field of academic study. The ability to “learn and re-learn” and a demonstrable commitment to continuous learning is essential for career and personal success. They need the ability to accept and embrace change, solve hard problems, embrace new ideas, to ask important and relevant questions and the importance of context and consequence.
Our Mission
The EXL Lab engages academic institutions, faculty, and non-academic thought leaders and companies to create dynamic, interdisciplinary, project-based, “learning by doing,” inter-curricular and extracurricular experiences for students in underserved middle & high schools in greater Los Angeles.
We curate and create “learning by doing” tools, methods, and practices and experiences to support student success and fulfillment in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
We believe in the transformative power of experiential learning and its inherent connection with real world context, relevance, and applications. Multiple studies have shown that experiential learning increases the effectiveness and retention of learning; it links theory to practice, and it leads to lifelong learning and retention.
We believe afterschool organizations and services offer exceptional and effective opportunities to deliver and support fundamental learning, social and creative life skills not taught in schools, through activity and maker-based programs that align with, and significantly enhance academic performance.
Our Focus
In today’s ever-changing world, learning how to learn, adapt, and collaborate with others is essential for success. Our programs focus on developing durable skills, social-emotional learning, visual ideation, media literacy, and more. EXL Lab students cultivate a deep sense of identity and agency, understanding who they are and what they stand for.
At EXL Lab, our responsibility extends beyond delivering content; we continuously reinforce core learning behaviors and skills within real-world contexts, ensuring students are prepared to apply these skills effectively throughout their lives.
Scope of Services
Connecting Learning to Experience
We inspire
students to move confidently between interdisciplinary content areas, navigate life challenges, and build meaningful relationships.
We create
“Maker-Based” experiential learning programs that require Durable Skills such as communication, collaboration and teamwork.
We introduce
students to state-of-the-art, innovative technology, and disciplines while working and creating collaboratively and cooperatively.
We integrate
state-of-the-art hybrid technology and methods and practices into all Lab programs to prepare students for the evolving digital future.
We believe
in cultivating peer-to-peer cascading mentorships among undergraduates, high school, and middle school students, facilitated by ed tech
We focus
on creating and delivering strong, evidence-based, and well-informed experiential learning opportunities in underserved communities in Los Angeles.
We integrate
community service within all student programs, emphasizing the responsibility of local community contribution and global citizenship.
EXL LAB Operating Principles
Serve the Gaps
Provide Lifetime Learning Skills
Experience Before Theory
Knowledge & Understanding Emerges in Making
Follow Student Interest
Increases Engagement and Sustainment
Small is Better
Group size affects quality and impact
Organic Growth
Take Stock; Build on Strengths
Depth over Breadth
Deep experience vs. number of "touch"
Systemic Evolution
Change through Enhancement vs. Curriculum
We accomplish our mission through the development and delivery of the following initiatives:
By integrating state-of-the-art technology into all Lab programs, we prepare students for a digital future. We facilitate peer-to-peer mentorship, connecting undergraduates with high school and middle school students to foster cascading mentorship and community service. We merge and share pedagogy, technology, and social emotional learning practice to better engage leachers and students in meaningful learning experiences.
Our primary goal is to serve as a connector, curator, facilitator, and content destination hub for programs, technology and learning experiences to schools, nonprofit organizations, and companies. This includes content and experience design development, creating and delivering pilots with our delivery partners and helping them develop a capacity to adopt these practices in their work.
We will create an experiential learning virtual and physical eco system which will deliver unique, co-creative, spatial storytelling learning experiences for undergraduate and high-school students utilizing state-of-the-art hybrid technology. Our goal is to develop, pilot and deliver interdisciplinary programs that are specifically designed for the eco system, connecting students from Ednovate Charter Schools and other educational institutions in Los Angeles and beyond, and most important, reflect the real-world context of the collaborative workplace.
We will work with non-academic partners to develop user-based research and case studies for progressive education programs and technologies. We will facilitate and mediate innovative partnerships and projects.
Rapidly emerging digital technologies and information systems require a progressive and relevant vision for learning and teaching that will evolve the role of teachers at all education levels. We merge and share pedagogy, technology and social emotional learning practice to better engage leachers and students in meaningful learning experiences.
Program Partners
Essays & Stories
BLOG: Insights and Narratives to Inspire and Engage
A Disruptive
& Evolving Landscape
Most high school and college graduates will navigate multiple careers, often different from their field of academic study. The ability to “learn and re-learn” and a demonstrable commitment to continuous learning is essential for career and personal success. They need the ability to accept and embrace change, solve hard problems, embrace new ideas, to ask important and relevant questions and the importance of context and consequence.
The EXL LAB @ USC believes our communities and the world form the natural context for meaningful learning experiences of discovery, connections, and relationships; places where curiosity inspires engagement, imagination, and innovation. Schools and Classrooms are learning destinations for convening, communicating, co-creating, and sharing.
In all EXL Lab programs, students learn to activate curiosity and discovery, methods of inquiry, patterns and relationships, understanding of action and consequences, communication, collaboration, visual ideation, and co-creation, navigation of and engagement with opportunities, and especially, the dynamics and benefits of relationships, personal, social, local, and global.
We Believe
Who We Are
At the EXL Lab, we design dynamic programs & events that inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for learning and problem solving through real-world learning experiences and maker projects. We see schools and classrooms as dynamic spaces for inquiry-driven engagement, imagination, and innovation, where learning transcends traditional boundaries to foster discovery and meaningful connections.
Core Learning Competencies
ESSENTIAL FOR NAVIGATING CHALLENGES
& OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE
Spatial, Visual, Literal, Experiential; Visual Ideation, Story-Making, Design, Develop, Produce, Express
Identity, Agency, Confidence, Empathy, Commitment, Listening, Mindfulness, Reflection, Emotional Self-Management
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Collaboration, Cooperation, Teamwork, Adaptability, Time Management, Networking, Present & Defend,
Innovation Mindset, Conversation, Leadership & Followship.
Critical, Scientific, Design, Systems Thinking. Patterns, Sequences and Relationships.
Project Based Learning, Peer-to-Peer, Hybrid Learning, Flipped Classroom; Experiential & Applied Learning, Interdisciplinary, Cross-Cultural; Holistic Assessment & Evaluation
THE EXL LAB
Facilitates adoption of durable & digital skills, teamwork, emotional self-management. collaborations between learning institutions, industry, and thought leaders. activation & program evaluation with non-academic and K-12 partners.
We equip students to navigate complex, interdisciplinary challenges, build strong personal and professional relationships, and thrive in diverse environments. Our programs emphasize the essential durable skills needed for success.
EXPLORING HOW & WHY WE LEARN
Students will have multiple careers during their lifetime.
Learning how to learn and re-learn, how to work with others, and how to tell an engaging, enrolling story to a resistant audience are SUPERPOWERS for success in the current radically disruptive evolution of our culture.
EXPLORING HOW & WHY WE LEARN
Students will have multiple careers during their lifetime.
Learning how to learn and re-learn, how to work with others, and how to tell an engaging, enrolling story to a resistant audience are SUPERPOWERS for success in the current radically disruptive evolution of our culture.
Core Learning Competencies
ESSENTIAL FOR NAVIGATING CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE
Expression Skills
Spatial, Visual, Literal, Experiential; Visual Ideation, Story-Making, Design, Develop, Produce, Express
Awareness Skills
Identity, Agency, Confidence, Empathy, Commitment, Listening, Mindfulness, Reflection, Emotional Self-Management
Process Skills
Critical, Scientific, Design, Systems Thinking. Patterns, Sequences and Relationships.
Project Based Learning, Peer-to-Peer, Hybrid Learning, Flipped Classroom; Experiential & Applied Learning, Interdisciplinary, Cross-Cultural; Holistic Assessment & Evaluation
Durable Skills
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Collaboration, Cooperation, Teamwork, Adaptability, Time Management, Networking, Present & Defend, Innovation Mindset, Conversation, Leadership & Followship.
Impact
Empowering Change Through Collaboration
Well-informed methods:
We ground our approach and work in innovative research, consulting with leaders in the space of program design, evaluation and content. We draw our inspiration from the leaders in experiential learning, and we seek ways to adopt and implement the methods and practices that make sense for our partners.
Partnership network:
We operate at the intersection of higher education, middle- and high-school, industry and thought leaders. We are inspired by our connections in the art and media world, driven by the rigor of our academic partners, and inspired by industry leaders committed to giving back and elevating young learners. We successfully curate partnerships across sectors and disciplines, within cities and beyond the US, between generations and cultures.
Evaluation matters:
We don’t tell our story through numbers – we demonstrate our impact through changes that occur in the behavior and academic performance of the students we serve. While we use traditional evaluation to ensure that we capture the voice of all stakeholders in the process, we also work with innovators in this field who help us identify and focus on the deeper-level changes that we encourage in our students.
Focus on Durable Skills:
In our praxis, we focus on these relevant, 21st Century skills that will empower students to confidently enter the next phase of their lives:
Who We Are
At the EXL Lab, we design dynamic programs & events that inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for learning and problem solving through real-world learning experiences and maker projects. We see schools and classrooms as dynamic spaces for inquiry-driven engagement, imagination, and innovation, where learning transcends traditional boundaries to foster discovery and meaningful connections.
We Believe
The EXL LAB believes our communities and the world form the natural context for meaningful learning experiences of discovery, connections, and relationships; places where curiosity inspires engagement, imagination, and innovation. Schools and Classrooms are learning destinations for convening, communicating, co-creating, and sharing. In all EXL Lab programs, students learn to activate curiosity and discovery, methods of inquiry, patterns and relationships, understanding of action and consequences, communication, collaboration, visual ideation, and co-creation, navigation of and engagement with opportunities, and especially, the dynamics and benefits of relationships, personal, social, local, and global.
Our Program Pillars
Health Wellness
Body
Food
Exercise
Reflection
Emotional Management
Relationships
Connection
Communication
Team-Building & Teamwork
Leading & Following
Learning Technologies
Durable Skills
mind
Learning to Learn and Unlearn
Practices for Lifetime Learning
Story Making & Visual Ideation
Present, Defend and Share