- Fox Chapel Area School District
- Mobile Fab Lab
About the Mobile Fab Lab
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Fox Chapel Area's Mobile Fab Lab started with a simple idea: Create a mobile learning environment for students to engage in computer science, digital fabrication and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics). Thanks to a grant from the Grable Foundation, that idea was able to become a reality.
In February of 2017, the district partnered with 84 Lumber Tiny Living. 84 Lumber created a prefabricated mobile tiny house. When the shell arrived at the Fox Fab Lab, Justin Papariello, technology and education teacher,oversaw Fox Chapel Area High School engineering students in designing and building a mobile “Fab Lab” for the district and surrounding community schools. The goal was to outfit the mobile lab with everything that would be found in a traditional Fab Lab – 3D printers, CNC machines, laser engravers, vinyl cutters, computers, and other pieces of technological equipment.
The students took full ownership in making the lab into a fully functional mobile learning environment. They customized the shell inside and out. Students prototyped the best location for equipment before wiring and constructing the workspace. They also designed and printed the outside graphics for the mobile lab.The mobile Fab Lab debuted at Remake Learning Days in May of 2017. The lab was featured as part of special events that week. Each student who visited the Fab Lab made a product that required them to utilize problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills related to the math and science standards. Project examples include a laser-engraved box, toolbox, vinyl stickers, and wooden name tags.
Watch and Learn!
FAQs
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What services does the Mobile Fab Lab provide?
Students will have the opportunity to work at a number of discovery stations. Each station was specifically designed to challenge students to problem solve and work through the engineering design process. We typically run three stations that students will rotate through during the visit. There are also two independent discovery centers for students who are finished working at a station. Your school will have the opportunity to choose stations that fit your students' needs. Students will have the opportunity to step inside the lab to see numerous fabrications machines in action.
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What pre-visit information is needed?
It is important to understand your school and your class needs. We created a form to help us capture this information.
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How do I prepare my class for a visit?
It's important that students have the opportunity to be exposed to the engineering design process. We will provide you with a presentation on the engineering design process and structures. This brief overview will then be applied and reinforced at Fab Lab learning stations.
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What facilities preparations must be made prior to the visit?
The Mobile Fab Lab is self-sufficient. It has a generator that will power all the equipment. Plugging it in, however, is ideal and will eliminate the noise. So when considering a place to park the lab at your school, please check to see if there are outlets. Some other items needed include a large garbage can, a bucket for water (we can use outdoor faucet if there is one available), a cart or flatbed, and a large metal baking sheet.
More info
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Visit the Mobile Fab Lab's website for a complete history of the lab, pictures, and other specifics.