Inside Inspiration Lab: How Tibot Education is reimagining the STEAM learning experience with Arduino
Tibot Education is on a mission – to deliver fun and engaging STEAM learning opportunities to schools all over Spain. And with the support of Arduino, they’re making it happen through their fast-growing network of certified Inspiration Labs, or iLabs.
We caught up with the team at Tibot Education to learn more about how these centers became a reality – and the incredible impact they’re having in classrooms nationwide.
What is an iLab and how does it work?
An iLab is an innovative hands-on learning space where students and teachers can experiment, explore, and enjoy making new discoveries using Arduino’s powerful educational tools.
The centers provide exciting workshops that dive into STEAM subjects like electronics, programming, and robotics. All of this is achieved through educational projects using the latest Arduino hardware, including the Student Kit, Science Kit R3, CTC Go! Core, Greenhouse Kit, and Explore IoT Kit Rev2. And with iLabs doubling as testing grounds for brand-new Arduino products, learners can get hands-on with the latest tech before it even hits the market!
They also provide dedicated training and certification programs that empower teachers to confidently bring technology into the classroom and design their own creative lessons and challenges.
From vision to reality: Tibot Education’s iLab journey
So, what was the inspiration behind Tibot Education’s decision to launch iLabs? Like many great ideas, it all started with a challenge – and a big opportunity.
Changes in curricula, along with the growing emphasis on robotics, programming, and technology in general, mean schools often struggle with deciding what technological content to teach and which materials to use. The cost of equipment, uncertainty about classroom implementation, and frequent staff turnover only add to the challenge.
And that’s why Tibot Education stepped in. They realized that while Arduino Education provided high-quality structured, ready-to-follow lessons, schools still needed on-the-ground support for setup and troubleshooting technical issues, along with guidance on classroom implementation. So, they joined forces with Arduino to bring the iLab idea to life.
And the rest, as they say, is history!
Humble beginnings, huge impact
Tibot Education’s iLab journey began in February 2022 when they started hosting small, hands-on workshops focused on the Arduino Student Kit. Capped at 12 participants per session, these workshops offered educators a practical, guided introduction to the tools and teaching methodology.
“We chose workshops as the starting point because teachers were unfamiliar with the materials and platform,” explains María Gutiérrez-Segú, who works in the pedagogical area at Tibot Education. “We fully trusted the product’s quality and alignment with school needs, so our strategy was to introduce it first – confident that afterward, schools would want to adopt and certify.”
And that’s exactly what happened…
In September 2022, just seven months later, the first iLab opened its doors. Since then, 13 schools (and counting!) have implemented these certified centers. Tibot Education also has a traveling iLab to bring the joy of STEAM to even more schools – from Bilbao to Seville and everywhere in between!
To date, they’ve conducted about 30 workshops across 20 cities and trained around 300 educators – at least 30 of whom have earned Fundamentals certification.
A roaring success: the benefits for schools, educators and students
Since launching their iLab centers, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Schools have reported that the iLab model brings the reliability of a trusted global manufacturer and the long-term stability of a well-structured educational project. By adopting Arduino Education through iLabs, schools say they gain a clear framework that supports meaningful integration of technology into the curriculum. The platform also encourages wider teacher involvement, helping institutions build stronger, more cohesive teams.
Certified status with Arduino adds an extra layer of recognition – a differentiator that positions these schools as forward-thinking and innovative. And of course, special purchasing terms and ongoing support from Tibot Education make adoption much easier and more sustainable.
For educators, iLab centers offer hands-on access to classroom-ready content, a wide range of cross-disciplinary challenges, and a fantastic support community. Tibot Education says certified teachers also gain confidence in using the materials and methodologies, leading to smoother Arduino integration into curricula.
This has resulted in more dynamic and inclusive classrooms with engaged students who feel empowered by their learning, as Javier Díaz de Sarralde – a teacher from Colegio Sanviator Ikastetxea – explains: "During the 22-23 academic year, we introduced the Arduino Student Kit in 3rd/4th ESO and 1st-year Baccalaureate, with very positive results in student motivation and skill development.
“The platform’s guided activities and ready-to-use materials allow students to tackle complex concepts like programming, electronics, and circuits in a hands-on way.”
Ready to build your own Inspiration Lab?
Inspired by Tibot Education’s journey? You can start one too!
Whether you're a school leader, teacher, or part of an educational network, we're here to help you bring exciting STEAM learning opportunities to your community.