By Mary O’KEEFE

Recently Glendale Unified School District teachers and administrators gathered at Wilson Middle School to launch Verizon Innovative Learning Lab. The Verizon Innovative Learning Lab was made possible through a partnership with Verizon, Heart of America and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University.

Verizon Innovative Learning Lab will give students and teachers access to emerging technology such as augmented and virtual reality, coding and 3D printing and artificial intelligence, according to a statement from GUSD.

Working through its nonprofit partners, it will provide free technology, free Internet access and hands-on learning experiences to help under-resourced students receive the education they deserve and help prepare them for today’s digital economy, according to the statement.

“The Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program and this new Verizon Innovative Learning Lab give our students the capacity to expand their digital literacy while empowering teachers to guide them along the way,” said Glendale Unified Board of Education President Shant Sahakian. “We are very excited to partner with Verizon, Heart of America and Arizona State University to provide this opportunity for our students and teachers.”

“Through this incredible partnership with Verizon, Heart of America and Arizona State University, we are closing the digital divide for thousands of students and preparing our future leaders for the careers of tomorrow,” said Glendale Unified Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian.