FAB LABS

An example of a "fab lab"

I am not sure how many of you have heard of a fabrication lab (aka “fab lab”), but it is a great example of STEAM (add Art) in action.  The premise is that a person can have a creative idea, develop it, model it, engineer it and build it.  Teacher Will Renault, from St. Paul’s wrote me recently and called it ‘MIND to HAND’.  Mr. Golden, our school’s Technology Education teacher, engages in some related elements in his engineering and architecture classes.  Beyond our campus, NHTI will be installing a fab lab in the near future (accessible by the public to some degree) and St. Paul’s has one in place already.  A fab lab can reflect a mix of new and old -  it has high end computers available to do 3D rendering - and some old-style machines like cutters and lathes (some run by computerized CAD CAM) available to manufacture a product.  The project-driven process involves applied math, science, art, design, and technology.  This is an area of great interest to the CHS and CRTC community as we explore our future.  We seek your input and expertise.

-Steve Rothenberg

CRTC Director