Creating a Successful Fab Lab: Tips From Ivy Tech’s Engineering Department

When professor Jason Roth stepped into his new class at Ivy Tech, it was set up like a traditional classroom: rows of desks with chairs and a projector screen at the front. The room hadn’t been updated since the ‘90s.

“I knew the space was not conducive to the learning process,” Roth said. “We had to make some changes to create a functional workshop environment to better support our design and engineering programs.”

In addition to changing the room design, Roth wanted to purchase equipment upgrades to provide students with the tools and resources found in the workplace, including 3D printers, laser cutters, workbenches, and shop tools.

Overall, Roth set out with three key goals:

• Design a fab lab and workspaces that facilitate collaboration
• Invest in tools that enhance engineering curriculum and mirror real-world design, prototyping, and manufacturing processes
• Create a comprehensive plan that would win over gatekeepers

https://formlabs.com/blog/creating-a-fab-lab-tips-from-ivy-tech-engineering/