Minnesota Summit on Learning & Technology

Development of a Self-Paced Middle School Digital Fab Lab Course

Boyd Weiger

Mounds View Public Schools

Keywords: digital, fab lab, maker, self-paced

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Abstract

In this workshop, lessons learned from the development of a middle school digital fab lab course will be shared. The course was designed to teach 6th grade (11-12 y.o.) students how to create digital 2D designs in CorelDRAW x8 and 3D designs in Autodesk Inventor Professional 2017. Additional design work was done in the browser based programs SVG-Edit and TinkerCAD. Students then learned how to fabricate their designs on Silhouette Cameo blade cutters, Universal laser cutters, and MakerGear 3D printers using machine specific interface software. Additionally, students began work on a video-based reflective digital portfolio, and began curating a Personal Learning Network. This required, semester-long course is self-paced and heavily based on student interest to drive engagement. The course is hosted on and makes extensive use of Google Apps for Education (GAFE). The vast majority of instruction is designed as a guided-inquiry process using short video tutorials coupled with assignments designed to help students learn how to use the software and hardware. During the workshop, educators will have access to explore actual digital course materials. Even though the course is hosted on GAFE, the course structure could easily be implemented in Moodle, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, or other similar LMS platforms. The following topics will be discussed:

• how to (and how NOT to) distribute course materials
• managing access to relatively few digital fabrication machines with many students
• standards-based assessment that promotes student-driven mastery and self-assessment
• developing reflective electronic portfolios
• harnessing student expertise within the classroom
• promoting student growth in Habits of Mind

Related URL: http://bweiger.blogspot.com/

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Author Biography

Boyd Weiger, Mounds View Public Schools

Boyd Weiger is currently a digital fab lab teacher with Mounds View Public Schools who brings his personal interest in the maker movement to the classroom. He was previously a middle/high school chemistry and physics teacher for 10 years. Prior to that he served for 10 years in the U.S. Navy nuclear power program where he gained his love of reading tech manuals and fixing things.