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DFLC-USFLNFab Lab Development

Discussion Guide

Topics-Fab Lab Development

Sponsor Profiles United States Fab Lab Network (USFLN) Digital Fabrication Learning Community (DFLC)

Fab Lab (“Lifecycle”)Development Methodology Highlights Lifecycle Planning by Phase Lessons Learned

Mentoring Sessions

USFLN Mission & Vision

The United States Fab Lab Network (USFLN) promotes responsible collaboration in digital fabrication. It evolved in November 2009 from the regional Midwest Fab Lab Network (MFLN, formed in December 2006).

The mission of the USFLN, in the spirit of the MIT Fab Charter, is to support digital and personal fabrication in academics, business, and community outreach: In academics, the USFLN encourages Fab Labs to engage students

and teachers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

In business, it promotes invention, entrepreneurship, and skills needed for a 21st-century global economy.

In community outreach, it makes resources available to empower underserved and non-traditional populations.

The USFLN fosters innovation and creativity that contributes to the nation's well-being. Membership is open to ANY person and any organization that follows the MIT Fab Charter.

Our Core Values: Experimentation We believe experimentation is the key to invention and overall economic sustainability for the U.S. Hands-On Learning We strongly value and support hands-on learning. Open Access People of all ages and backgrounds should have open access to space, equipment, and technology among people of all ages and backgrounds. Collaboration We believe collectively, we can do more than any one can accomplish alone. Problem Solving We believe all people can help solve real world problems. Empowerment We strive to empower businesses, entrepreneurs, and the general public. Creativity We believe that all people have creative talent. Achievement We believe Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education can be fun and attainable for all, not just engineers and scientists.

U.S. Fab Lab Network 5 – Year Strategic Plan

5 – Year Strategic Priorities

√ Establish a Robust Clearinghouse of Information to Support Fab Lab Growth &

Development

√ Develop Educational Support Materials

√ Strengthen Communication & Interaction Among Fab Labs

√ Cultivate Collaborative Projects

√ Increase Visibility at Local, Regional, & National Levels

√ Research & Document Impact of Fab Labs

√ Grow Resources & Strengthen Network Administration

U.S. Fab Lab Network 5 – Year Strategic Plan

DFLC Project Goals & Objectives

The Digital Fabrication Learning Community (DFLC) NSF ATE Project (#1104199) will establish a pilot learning community that leverages digital and personal fabrication’s proven enrichment of STEM competencies and attitudes with learners and educators, while driving advanced technician development throughout the USA.

To accomplish this goal, the project will integrate multiple networks of Community College & Educational Fab Labs, Digital Fabrication Experts, STEM Learning Specialists, and Next-Generation Manufacturing (NSF ATE) Centers into a USA Digital Fabrication Learning Community .

DFLC Project Goals & Objectives

The objectives for the project are to: Establish the infrastructure and

offerings for a pilot Digital Fabrication Learning Community that integrates Next Generation Manufacturing technician development.

Develop a technology blueprint and test portal for a Digital Fabrication Learning Community to share digital fabrication curriculum and resources.

Define a Digital Fabrication STEM Learning Model and evaluate ongoing impacts of digital and personal fabrication experiences on STEM learners in the pilot Digital Fabrication Learning Community.

“Fab Lab Learning Spiral”

DFLC Resources & Offerings

Fab Lab Lifecycle

Planning & Development

Webinars

Interim Portal & Projects Repository

Mentoring Program

Regional Workshops

Underrepresented Students Outreach Program

Specials


Fab Lab Lifecycle Planning &

Development

Fab Lab Development Process (“Lifecycle”) Research Interest Generation Justification Planning Commitment Installation Training Implementation Enhancement Maintenance Sustainability

Highlights Based on proven technology implementation best practices and early fab lab

experiences Structured and comprehensive approach for successful fab lab planning,

implementation and mentoring throughout fab lab “lifecyle” Virtual workshops piloted with several USFLN member organizations to support

their implementation Formal DFLC Offering available to prospective fab lab organizations


Webinars

Past Webinars- Fab Lab Lifecycle Planning:May 20, 2011: http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=1305309479130_1305896449359

Dec 9, 2011:http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=1321314118460_1323443909484

The Recording password for both is: networks




Mentoring Program

DFLC Mentoring Digital Fab Mentoring Team-

”Gurus” Register Mentoring Requests-

Candidates Mentor Matching Initial Mentoring Session Ongoing Support Fab Lab Tours Boot Camp



Fab Lab Lifecycle Planning &

Development


Mentoring Program

Regional Workshops

Underrepresented Students Outreach

Program

Specials

DFLC-USFLNFab Lab Development Methodology

Highlights Based on proven technology implementation best practices

and early fab lab experiences Avoids common mistakes with technology implementations

(“lets just install the stuff and we’ll figure it out later”) Installation does NOT equal implementation Must focus on convergence of people, processes and

technology to ensure success Structured and comprehensive approach for successful fab

lab planning, implementation and mentoring throughout fab lab “lifecyle”

Virtual workshops piloted with several USFLN member organizations to support their implementation

Formal DFLC Offering- Inquiries should be sent to: [email protected]

DFLC-USFLNFab Lab Development Methodology

Fab Lab Development Process (“Lifecycle”) Research Interest Generation Justification Planning Commitment Installation Training Implementation Enhancement Maintenance Sustainability

Planning Guide for each Lifecycle Phase: Key Questions Critical ConsiderationsResources

Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment

TrainingInstallation

Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Fab Lab Development Process

Key Questions & Considerations What do we know about Fab Labs? What Fab Labs exist or are prospective? Where and how do we discover more? What do we know about our (present, future)

needs? What resources are available? How do Fab Labs, needs, and resources

intersect? READ Neil’s Book Define THE problem(s) to create the vision Qualify organization interest in next phase


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Resources Master List MIT Fab Lab Central USFLN Website & Portal DFLC Grant Guides DFLC Start-up Kit Others IN-PROCESS

Past Webinars:May 20, 2011: http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=1305309479130_1305896449359

Dec 9, 2011:http://elluminate.mesacc.edu/play_recording.html?recordingId=1321314118460_1323443909484

The Recording password for both is: networks


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

DFLC Resources- Guides

Key Questions & Considerations Identify and confirm Fab Lab Champion Identify and confirm Fab Lab Executive

Sponsor Visit established Fab Lab(s) that model your

vision Understand MIT Fab Lab Model & Charter Join USFLN Communicate findings to internal team Differentiate between having a fabrication

laboratory and a Fab Lab What is the best way to create interest?


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations What would be the purpose of our Fab Lab?

education/curriculum entrepreneurship/business community outreach technology research/application

Who are the users? Age (children, youth, adult, seniors) Location (local, regional, national,) Gender Minorities (racial, ethnic, Special interests (disabled, economic,

professions Financials Creativity


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations Vision & Mission Goals & Objectives Curriculum emphasis Outreach strategy Candidates for Fab Lab team? Staffing- Roles & Responsibilities (Appx. 2.5 FTE)

Champion-Coordinator Lead Technician-Lab Manager Interns-Volunteers

Candidates for Executive Sponsors? Industry Supporters? High-level Timeline? Site selection or Platform options & criteria


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations EXECUTIVE SPONSORSHIP & COMMITMENT Fab Lab Champion has the authority,

availability and resources to succeed Who is really committed to this Fab Lab? Whose backing is critical for its launch and

success? What additional support is needed? How can we qualify & formalize internal &

external commitments? Starter program Soft launch Grand Opening with media


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations Order MIT Equipment (If from scratch) Incremental Equipment? Hardware? Software? Materials & supplies? Safety? Final staffing? Pilot phase? Learning projects? Shopbot Realities


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations People & Equipment Safety What relevant skills do we already have? What new skills do we need to develop? Must rely on Informal Training (“Can you

teach yourself?”) Leverage Train the Trainer Strategy MIT Sponsored Boot Camps? Training plan & schedule


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations How will our Fab Lab REALLY be integrated

into our organization? How will the equipment really be put to use? How will we ensure that the Fab Lab serves

our purposes? Grand Opening? Portfolio of Offerings? Special Stakeholder Briefings? Marketing & Media Plan?


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations Outreach Plan Scaling & Growth Plan Who will monitor Fab Lab use to keep it

current? How will we show that the Fab Lab needs to be

enhanced? What resources are needed for enhancement? Where will we find support for enhancement? MIT Fab Lab Version 2.0


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations What human, technical, and financial

resources are needed? Who will monitor and assess conditions? Ongoing equipment expenses? Ongoing hardware expenses? Ongoing software expenses? Ongoing people expenses? Ongoing safety considerations


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

Key Questions & Considerations What level of sustainability is necessary for

the Fab Lab in your environment? What human, technical, and financial

resources are needed to sustain the Fab Lab? What is the source(s) of resources to address

needs? Cost recovery plans? Revenue & Expense Planning? Fab Lab Functional enhancements? ASSUME Turnover in Technical Staff WILL

occur


Research

Interest Generation

Justification

Commitment


Implementation

Enhancement

Maintenance

Sustainability

Planning

USFLNLESSONSLEARNED

Lorain County Community CollegeLessons Learned - Benefits

• High tech equipment available to everyone• Fosters creativity and innovation – it is contagious!• JIT instead of JIC education• Fosters collaboration, sharing, synergy, and team work within the lab and among labs• Collaboration with MIT and other Fab Labs around the world – cultural and technical • Availability of MIT and global network created circuits, designs, projects, processes,

best practices, ideas, files, etc.• Midwest Fab Lab Network (USFLN)• Crosses boundaries of disciplines, age, race, gender, knowledge, talent, skills, etc.• Supports STEM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)• Allows manufacturing of products for a market of one • Creation of fab-based business models (e.g. Fab Fund)• Supports Entrepreneurship

Need a critical mass of users

Define the Fab Lab Mission within Institution’s Mission

Internal projects for college – tread lightly!

Plan for staffing

Materials management – seek donations, scrap box

Provide faculty from various disciplines across campus opportunities to collaborate – seek grants

Tool for recruitment: schools bring classes to the lab for hands-on STEM related activities – plan for funding and resources

Plan for integrating experiences and infusion into capstone classes

Lorain County Community CollegeLessons Learned - Benefits

Implement the MIT Fab Lab Model Sell the idea to top administration early Tour a successful Fab Lab Involve more than the “techies”- STEM Involve your “Geek” student’s….early on Secure a large enough space..interest grows quickly External Advisory Committee/Partnerships Programmatically Driven Initiatives Dedicated Laboratory Technician because of interest and growth “Money was never the issue” Join the USFLN

Century College Lessons Learned

FVTC Fab Lab Perspectives

Lessons Learned Assume 100% Self-sufficiency with best efforts assistance Use structured process to investigate and deploy Executive Sponsorship Team Buy-In Fab Labs are NOT a $50K proposition INSTALLATION DOES NOT EQUAL IMPLEMENTATION

Inquiries about DFLCFab Lab Development

Mentoring should be sent to [email protected]

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Documents

fab lab growth development

mit fab charter

pilot learning community

digital fabrication

community outreach

handson learning

stem learning specialists

network administration