Fab@School introduces K-12 students to the excitement and power of mathematical analysis and modeling, digital fabrication, and engineering by encouraging imaginative and collaborative experimentation, invention, design, and creation. Adapting a low-cost open-source emergent digital fabrication system for school use, Fab@School provides students the satisfying experience of taking their concepts-from geometric structures to simple machines to usable products-from mind's eye to physical form.
A complementary curriculum aligned with school standards fosters the further development of STEM skills by posing challenges and presenting models that spur inquiry and inspire students' original designs.
Fab@School in the news:
- NPR: Pure Genius: With New Printers, Classroom Will Go 3D
- Digital Fabrication as the Centerpiece of Elementary STEM Education
- Grade School Fabrication Printer Project Gets MacArthur Funding
- 3D Printer Project Gets MacArthur Funding
- Albemarle Summer Math Camp
- Cornell lab receives MacArthur grant for work on 3-D printer
Research and Fab@School:
- Tillman, D., Kjellstrom, W., Smith, S. & Yoder, E. (2011). Digital fabrication scaffolds for developing preservice elementary teachers’ mathematics pedagogy. In Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (pp. 892-897). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
- Berry, R. Q., III, Bull, G., Browning, C., Thomas, C. D., Starkweather, K., & Aylor, J. H. (2010). Preliminary considerations regarding use of digital fabrication to incorporate engineering design principles in elementary mathematics education.. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 10(2). Retrieved from http://www.citejournal.org/vol10/iss2/editorial/article1.cfm
- Bull, G. (2009). Tutor, tool, tutee: A vision revisited. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 9(2). Retrieved from http://www.citejournal.org/vol9/iss2/editorial/article1.cfm
- Bull, G. & Garofalo, J. (2009) Personal fabrication systems: From bits to atoms. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(7).
- Bull, G., & Groves, J. (2009). The democratization of production. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(3), 36-37.
- Bull, G., Knezek, G., & Gibson, D. (2009). A rationale for incorporating engineering education into the teacher education curriculum. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 9(3), 222-225. Retrieved from http://www.citejournal.org/vol9/iss3/editorial/article1.cfm
Additional links to Fab@School sites:
- Fab@School on MakeToLearn.com
- Willy Kjellstrom's blog
- the fabulous FableVision
Fab@School Collaborators:
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- Pam Moran, Albemarle County Public Schools
- Gary Marks, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE)
- Kendall Starkweather, International Technology and Engineering Education Association (ITEEA)
- Hod Lipson, Cornell University
- Dave Burghardt, Hofstra University
- Gerald Knezek, University of North Texas
- Jim French, University of Virginia
- Peggy Healy Stearns, Educational Software Design
- Paul Reynolds, FableVision Learning
- Jack Minsky, Software MacKiev
- Terry Markwart, Canon, U.S.A.
- Nick Sanham, Aspex Learning
- Kirk Pead, Silhouette Learning
- Chuck Reitzell, Graphtec America
