Fab FoundationS

Modules

Overview

The intent of these modules is to empower users to be designers, makers, and fabricators using craft and creativity as motivators for learning and strengthening their work. The course is set up into four distinct units or modules that scaffold upon each other to build foundational knowledge, designing, crafting, and prototyping skills, and the confidence to create. A successful user will complete the course with a deeper knowledge of the designed world around them and be inclined to find ways to question, engage, interact, and contribute as designers and makers.

Modules

◼ 1. Fab Foundations - 100

This unit introduces students to the concept of Maker Empowerment as it explores the key elements of the digital revolution and the connections to design processes, documentation, and creativity.

◼ 2. Design, Craft, and Art Fundamentals - 101

Introductory Course that leads to the development of the Elements and Principles of Design, foundational drawing, and sketching, and crafting techniques for simple prototyping.

◼ 3. Digital Fabrication 102 - Intro to design, processes, and machines

This is the third unit of the Art and Design course that asks students to demonstrate their understanding of the design process and art principles through the use of the Fab Lab’s digital fabrications machines.

◼ 4. Prototyping and Design 201 - Applied Learning, Implementation, and Impact

This unit asks students to quickly demonstrate a basic understanding of digital fabrication tools and techniques. They are then asked to apply those skills and other rapid prototyping techniques towards the second design challenge and a final Fab4Good project.

◼ 5. Fab Play Studio / Hawken Project

This module....TBD

Goals

Maker Empowerment: To understand the complexities, sensitivity to design, and interact with the designed dimensions of the world around them with confidence and creativity.
Creativity and Craft: To develop as creative thinkers and obtain design, craft, and fabrication skills that can be applied in multiple ways.

The Fab Foundations course reflects the work from Maker-Centered Learning developed by the Project Zero research group from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.