About the Summer 2011 Fab Lab Intensive Training students:

In the Introduction to Computer Programming portion of the program, students learned the basics of using a computer programming language to produce an outcome of their own design. Students acquired the foundation necessary to understand the fundamentals of computer programming languages, including structure and syntax, as well as the use of functions and variables. In order to make this technical learning low-barrier for our students, they begin by using code to program custom-designed shapes through coordinates and insert a dynamic element to their designs by making them responsive to the user’s movements, and therefore interactive. Students were able to use a handheld Infrared pen to control their designs by hand gestures.
Visit the Introduction to Computer Programming page in our website.

Students in the Web Development and Database Management class were introduced to relational web databases using the open-source software MySQL/phpMyAdmin. At Fab Lab SD, we used this approach to make sure that students will get to learn the concepts of database management while using tangible examples that are of high interest for the students. For example, students create websites with databases by first creating a website that is of interest to them. The students learned about the structure of web databases and database management. For the web development portion of the class, we used WordPress, an open-source software along with WAMP local servers and a commercial web server to make sure we cover all the bases. The students learned how to install, use and customize WordPress websites. While working with the WordPress functions, they also worked with web standards and web elements.
Visit the Database page in our website.

In the Electronics and Solar track learned, students about basic electronic concepts including electricity characteristics, theory including Ohm’s and Joule’s laws, and reading schematics to build their circuits. They also learned about solar systems, with an emphasis on photovoltaic installation and function. They initially worked with small solar cells within wireless solar lamps of their own design, then moved into assembling and testing larger-scale solar panel array systems, to finally building their own “Karma Charger”, a Fab Lab SD-designed and student built solar-charged device that can be carried in a pocket or handbag to charge any USB-powered device such as a cell phone, cameras, MP3 player, etc. The Karma Charger is also unique in that it contains up-cycled components, using electronics that would otherwise go into a landfill to create a mobile charger that can fully charge the average cell phone three times.

Visit the Electronics and Solar page in our website.

Students in the Graphic Design and Production track learned how to create a design and test it through the building of prototypes with computer-aided design software and CNC machinery. These students used the industry-standard software Adobe Illustrator to create designs in 2D as vector graphics, then convert those designs into toolpaths to be cut on a CNC (computer-numerically-controlled) machine. Students learned about the Platonic solids and building with polygons in order to design shapes in 2D and press-fit them together to form 3D objects. These shapes became the housings and customizations for their solar-powered lamps and Karma Chargers.

Visit the Graphic Design and Production page in our website.

All students participated in the resume-building workshops, and built portfolio pages to display their work. Additionally, all students worked together as teams to learn, design, and produce their final projects.

They’ve done an amazing job and we would like to share with you some of their experiences through their portfolio pages. We hope you enjoy browsing through these pages and would love to hear from you! Please select the ‘Portfolio’ tab to see all of the student pages.