At Hastings Middle School, learning takes on a whole new meaning in Mr. Renner’s Innovation and Design class. Here, students have the freedom to dive into creative, hands-on projects that spark their curiosity and passion. For eighth-grader Myles, this meant combining his love for skateboarding with cutting-edge technology by assembling and exploring one of our electric skateboard kits.
Skateboarding Meets STEM
Myles, who has been skateboarding for years, was selected to tackle this unique project after his class secured a grant from the Hastings Education Enrichment Foundation. But this wasn’t just any skateboard—it was one powered by a battery and motor that could be controlled with a remote, allowing Myles to adjust its speed with precision.
On his first ride, Myles zipped down the hallways of Hastings Middle School, grinning from ear to ear. “It actually goes pretty fast,” he said excitedly after his maiden voyage. While he joked about wanting to take the board home, Myles was equally thrilled about the chance to dive deeper into how it all worked.
Learning Beyond the Build
The fun didn’t stop at assembling the skateboard. Myles is also working through the full curriculum that comes with the kit, designed to help students understand the engineering, science, and sustainability behind electric vehicles.
“He’ll learn everything from where the minerals were sourced to build the batteries to how the wheels and board are produced,” explained Mr. Renner. “It’s a chance to really explore the big picture of electric transportation.”
In between working through the modules, Myles still finds time to jump on the board for a ride down the hallway—a little bonus for his hard work! Once he’s finished, he’ll disassemble the board so another student can enjoy the same hands-on experience.
From the Classroom to the Capitol
Myles didn’t just keep his work within the school walls. Along with Mr. Renner, he presented the electric skateboard project at the State Capitol Technology Showcase in Lansing. This event brought together students from across Michigan to share their innovative projects and highlight the incredible things happening in classrooms.
At the showcase, Myles demonstrated how the board works and shared what he’s learned, showing the potential for hands-on STEM learning to engage students in exciting and meaningful ways. It was an incredible opportunity to spotlight how projects like this are helping students prepare for a world shaped by electric transportation and sustainable technology.
You can read more here.
Connecting Students to the Future
This project comes at a particularly exciting time for the Hastings community, with a battery plant being built in nearby Marshall, Michigan. Mr. Renner saw this as the perfect opportunity to connect his students to the future of electric transportation.
“With this grant, what drew me to the project was actually the battery plant they’re putting in Marshall,” Mr. Renner explained. “As we start to move more into electric transportation, giving students a deeper understanding of what’s behind it is a really good thing.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
At Lectec, our mission is to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators through hands-on learning. Seeing students like Myles take on a project like this, from assembling the board to understanding the science behind it, is exactly why we do what we do.
With the support of dedicated educators like Mr. Renner and forward-thinking programs like Hastings Middle School’s Innovation and Design class, students are not just learning about technology—they’re building confidence, curiosity, and skills for the future.
You can read more about Hastings Middle School here.
We’re proud to see our electric skateboard kit helping spark that passion, both in the hallways of Hastings and at the State Capitol. Who knows where Myles’ journey will take him next—but one thing’s for sure, he’s off to an electrifying start.
