A fab lab, which is short for fabrication laboratory, is a very creative and innovative space for bringing technology, design, and entrepreneurship together under one roof. These labs are usually equipped with cutting-edge tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and a wide variety of electronics and software, empowering children to turn these ideas into tangible prototypes and products. Fab labs aren't just about the machines students utilize for inventing, either. They help students and makers foster a collaborative and open environment where people from various backgrounds can collaborate and experiment. Their experiences encourage hands-on learning and exploring everything from prototyping and product development to fun and artistic technological innovations. And, they're actually surprisingly easy to design and implement in school spaces.
Fab Labs play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between creativity and production, making them hubs of invention and problem-solving, ultimately driving local entrepreneurship and fostering a culture of DIY innovation. Fab labs offer a wide range of benefits, both for individual children and across the school community. At the top of our list, they often help instill a sense of creativity, community-centered learning, entrepreneurship, and personal empowerment. Not to mention, fab lab experiences also support student STEM development by providing a practical platform for applying their knowledge. They're also great for facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration, bringing together students with various skills and backgrounds and fostering team-based problem-solving approaches. Check out some of our in-depth and insightful content below, including posts on specific tech tools for fab labs.
If you’re looking for a small, easy-to-use, but high-quality 3D printer, the MakerBot Replicator Mini is for you. Before this experiment, I had very little 3D printing experience. I assumed they were all too complicated and sophisticated, so I was amazed by the simplicity that comes along with the MakerBot Mini.
At a somewhat surprising rate, teachers are ditching traditional computer labs and rediscovering innovation with new hubs known as 3D printer labs. In these labs, kids get the added STEM experience and the school spends more money. Not so fast. Today, we’ve got five top-of-the-line and, more importantly, affordable 3D printers you should try out this school year.
It may be time to upgrade your school’s space with something a bit more STEM-focused and exciting. In fact, it probably is. As the new school year begins, we’re making it easier than ever for educators to implement 3D printer labs in their schools and we’ve got the research to back up their value in 21st century instruction.
With BoXZY’s compact, durable, and three-in-one machines, you can get your 3D printer, CNC mill, and laser engraver in one affordable apparatus! There are three new options we’ve added onto our store—with each even more eye-catching than the last, including the BoXZY Make, BoXZY Carve, and BoXZY Complete—all of which are powerful and easy to integrate.
Whether you’ve got an eager team of inventors or an elementary-aged bunch of curious. FLASHFORGE’s line of easy-to-use 3D printers help teachers revolutionize STEM education with simple innovation that just works. With four affordable models, these top-notch tools are ready to help you reinvent hands-on PBL! And, LulzBot isn’t too bad either.
Understanding 3D printing, its benefits, and its uses are critical pieces of 21st century STEAM learning, which is why, at the Eduporium office, we have begun researching and stocking the best 3D printers on the market today. Take a look at one of the best starter 3D printers in the MOD-t from New Matter.
EdTech has the unique ability to inspire students towards solving problems, spark their undying interest in a particular career or help them improve their community where it needs help most. You just don’t know it yet. Fab labs serve as an ideal way to promote project-based learning and teaching in a way that students have not previously seen.
Knowing her students needed to be incorporating modern STEM projects into their education, she and her team set out to create the perfect makerspace for all they wanted to accomplish. Officially coined, the “Fab Lab,” Elizabeth’s final product is one that students can use every day—collaboratively or individually—to construct creative projects.
Erin Piazza is the Library Media Specialist at Watertown High School in Watertown, MA. Tasked with expanding the possibilities of her students’ 21st century education, Erin set out to turn her traditional, bookshelf-filled library into an innovative makerspace for her children to explore, craft and learn through hands-on activity!
Sugru is not just a product. It’s a lifestyle. Their philosophy is a simple one: if it’s broken, fix it. If it’s not broken, make it better. Anyone can be a fixer—all they need is the right tool. In case you haven’t noticed yet, Sugru is one of Eduporium’s favorite things. Out of the pack, it feels like sticky play-dough,
