Tapping the Potential of Fab Labs

Does your school have a Fab Lab? Not sure exactly what to do with it? Learn how Fab Labs can be used to support multi-disciplinary learning. Join us to discuss using simple problems to teach age-appropriate STEAM concepts, how the design process works, how design-based experiences engage students and how to align your activities with national standards.

Ken Welty, PhD teaches instructional methods for technology and science education at the undergraduate level and research methods and program evaluation at the graduate level. His work includes evaluating the treatment of engineering in STEM curricula for the NAE, investigating students’ conceptions of technology and engineering, and consulting with schools to integrate their Fab Labs into STEM education.

Laurence Chalier has been involved in UW-Stout fab lab since its inception. He performs assessments of Fab Labs throughout WI for UW-Stout to discern what makes a quality fab lab. In his current position, he is leading the charge to develop a STEM/fab lab curriculum for K-12 teachers and students in Maple, WI. He teaches with Ken at the WiFab Retreat, a summer PD experience for k-12 educators.

Follow-up Resources:
List of US Fab Labs in the network where one can also apply to join the community:
North American Digital Fabrication Alliance: