Flex Factor

Introduction

FlexFactor was developed by NextFlex to address the critical outreach and recruitment challenge faced by the advanced manufacturing sector. Through a project-based, student-led framework, the program engages students with advanced technologies and entrepreneurship. The unique curriculum is grounded in experiential learning that shows them the concepts behind hardware design and business model development through first-person discovery. Supported by field trips to an industry facility and higher education campus, FlexFactor immerses students in a wide range of career pathways. These opportunities provide enduring and transformative experiences that translate the concept of a future career from an esoteric notion to a concrete goal and a corresponding path to achievement.  

FlexFactor’s project-based learning framework integrates the concepts around research, design, development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and distribution of a new hardware product. Engagement with this variety of functions accomplishes two important tasks. First, it encourages students to experiment with a multitude of potential career pathways. Second, it promotes the type of cross-functional thinking that allows both engineers and marketers to explore the technical and business considerations critical to product success. Through this unique approach to STEM-based learning, FlexFactor is highly effective at sparking a passion for things like product development in students who had never considered tech-based careers.  

The SVCTE FlexFactor program is being run in the Mechatronics Engineering Class and is focused on career development

• Research and Brain Storming

• Project schedule planning

• Engineering Product development

• Business and Marketing introduction

• Presentation Skills

• Practice in Public Speaking

Getting Started

2019-2020 Schedule

• AM and PM

  • Start/End Time (1): 8:00-9:30

  • Start/End Time (2): 12:30-2:00

• 08/27 Career Readiness and Kick-Off

• 09/05 Industry and College Day Field Trip Time | 8:00-2:30 PM

• 09/12 In-Class Check-In

• 09/26 Final Rehearsal

• 10/24 Final Pitch

Student participation Documents:

• Student Welcome Overview  - 2019 (PDF)

• Parent Welcome Overview  - 2019 (PDF)

• Media Release Form 

Lesson, Lectures. Labs

• Lesson 1 - Flex Factor Introduction 

  • This Module is an Introduction to Next Flex and the Flex Factor Program.   We will be discussing some Carer Readiness tips and best practices. 

  • Video-1-CareerReadiness (MP4) 8:22 Min (Accessible only on SCTE class network)

  • Next Flex  & Flex Factor Introduction

    • Video-2-FHE-Introduction (MP4) 7:47 Min (Accessible only on SCTE class network)

    • Video-3-Entrepreneurship-Introduction (MP4)  4:30 Min (Accessible only on SCTE class network)

• Lesson 2 -  Picking a Problem to solve,  Brainstorming,  Shake Down

• Lesson 3 - 

Flex Factor Videos - Shared on MetroED Google Domain only, so you may not be able to get access outside of my class

• Video-1-CareerReadiness (MP4) 8:22 Min 

• Video-2-FHE-Introduction (MP4) 7:47 Min

• Video-3-Entrepreneurship-Introduction (MP4)  4:30 Min

• Video-4-Block-Diagrams (MP4)

• Video-5-Business-Models (MP4)

• Video-6-Final-Pitch (MP4)

Random Stuff To Sort

Teachers - Unit, Module and Lesson Plans

If you are a teacher and want to run a Flex Factor program in your class... here are a few steps... I have to say I'm really into this program, because it lets me teach presentation skills in an Engineering space.  Students who go on to Engineering and other STEAM fields will always need to present.  They will present project pitch, project status, project problems, customer presentations... lots and lots of presenting... so any practice you can give them is Awesome.  I'm not super impressed by the actual material that the Next Flex folks bring, but it's not terrible.  Just know that you will need to back fill to meet the needs of your class.

• Contact the NextFlex folks and start a discussion.

• Apparently there is a fee to run the program, I'm not sure what it is, because I have not had to pay it.  I have had "sponsoring" partners who have always covered it, but I think it's in the range of $3K.

• Plan to dedicate about 18-25 hours of class over 4-6 weeks (my class is 3 hours long every day, so I can dedicate 3+ hours a week to this project.