Students are just wrapping up their rotation in FAB LAB.  Some students were starting the rotation, while others were finishing the course for the year.  Students got to dive in to 2D and 3D laser cutting this rotation.  They also got to learn about 3D modeling and a bit about 3D printing too!  Students got to explore different types of vinyls and how they can be used to make certain products from window clings, to decals, to even apparel!  Some level 2 students even got to dive into shirt printing and look at direct to garment printing which is a newer technology in the t-shirt industry.  They got to design and print real shirts with real pictures even at times.  We have the only direct to garment printer in Waukesha County here at STEM Saratoga.  Next rotation advanced students will get to design their own FAB LAB project!

Students have just wrapped up the unit Green Architecture.  In that course students studied area and perimeter to look at home ownership practices such as painting, flooring, trims, and other things.  They had a chance to be an interior designer and re do all of the flooring in a single story ranch home and come up with a proposal for a client.  They had to stay within budget, research options, and look at different pricing and customer needs.  They then got to design and build a model of a shipping container home.  These are new forms of home construction that have become quite trendy in some parts of the country.

Students are now getting into FAB LAB again.  FAB LAB students will once again be studying digital fabrication and personal design to change and build products used in their every day lives.

Students are in the middle of their Pathways rotation number 4.  In STEM U, we are in the rotation called Green Architecture.  This is a very unique course that is only offered once every three years at STEM Saratoga.  Students first learned about reading and creating drawings to scale and how to read a blueprint for a house layout.  Students also had an opportunity to learn about home remodeling and budgeting.  They were given a client and a budget to work within and come up with a proposal for a flooring job in a house.  They had to look at different flooring types, their uses, and their costs.  Students also learned about different housing styles and the rooms typically within a house and what their purpose is.  The final project in the course is the designing and prototyping of a single story ranch shipping container home.  These cheap, green, and modern homes are very unique and are popping up across the country.  Students will design one and create a layout within their house for a single family home.

Students are wrapping up their rotation 3 Pathways courses.  Students who were with me were working on their 3D modeling coursework.  Students were either first, second, or even third year 3D Modeling students in the course.  First year students learned the basics of Inventor by building a pegboard toy and a mechanical arm.  Second year students designed and created a puzzle cube and built a model train.  Third year students got to design and create some inventions of their own that meet a human need or human want.  Over the course of the six weeks together students got a true hands-on experience on 3D Modeling and understood that 3D printing is nothing without a good 3D design.  Students who took the course can take the course every year while at STEM and have a different experience in this one of a kind 3D modeling program at STEM Saratoga.

Students are now in 3D Modeling.  There are three different levels of course offerings at this time.  Level one students are wrapping up their pegboard toy project and beginning work on the mechanical arm.  Students in level 2 are wrapping up their puzzle cube design and beginning to work on their model train.  Students in level 3 are finishing their tutorials and beginning work on their inventions.  All students are learning about 3D modeling and all students are learning about paper space and how to create drawing files.  Creating drawing files is an important skill because it teaches students about space and layout, technical drawing in isometric and orthographic projection form, proper labeling and annotating, and also dimensioning and measurement.  These are skills they can take with them the rest of their life.

Students are wrapping up their second rotation of pathways.  Students in STEM U are finishing round one of two in FAB LAB.  Students in the first year of FAB LAB are taking LEVEL 1.  LEVEL 1 students learned about vinyls and began laser cutting.  In vinyls students learned about single color decals, digital design, how to create vinyl signage, and how to create multi-color decals.  In laser cutting students got to design their own vector cut keychain.  They also got to design their own laser cut wall art.

Students in LEVEL 2 of FAB LAB learned about vinyls for fabric.  They got to design single color shirts and multi color shirts.  Students also got a chance to learn about sublimation printing and did a ceramic mug.  Students then got to design a CNC mill project where they got to place text on to a wooden stained board.  They learned about tooling, machining and wood processing.  They ended the rotation with a small laser project with a box challenge.

Students have just wrapped up Technical Drawing & Sketching.  Students had a chance to design their very own puzzle cube project that the planned out a design, created a prototype, and created technical drawings to show their plans for their cube.  

Students are now in Pathways rotation two.  Students are once again participating in the return of FAB LAB.  Students are learning about vinyls, lasers, and 3d printing again.  However, we have new equipment this year, so students are learning about milling, high speed machining, sublimation, heat pressing, and much more!  Please note that students can always add more funds to their accounts by turning in more funds to Ms. Olson in the office.  Stay tuned for more down the pike as we are planning on doing adult FAB LAB workshops this school year even to teach adults about the advantages of digital fabrication!

Students are kicking off the year by participating in Technical Drawing & Sketching.  Students are learning how to measure using an architectural scale, dimension properly, annotations, and different types of drawings.  Students will be designing their very own puzzle cube project as well.  Students will learn about orthographic projections, isometric drawings, and oblique drawings.  Students will then sketch out their final drawings of their completed puzzle cube project at the end of the course.  Students who finish will also have the option to 3D Print their own puzzle cube and bring it to life!

Students have wrapped up rotation five of STEM Pathways.  Rotation five students who are in the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge will be competing this Friday, April 27th in the Challenge Day Competition.  Students will put their skills to the test to build their device they've designed to complete the challenge and bring home some hardware!  Students have been working the past six weeks on the challenge.

Students in rotation six of STEM U are in Flight & Space.  They are starting out by designing their Mars Rover project.  They will be designing a vehicle that can travel over rough terrain on a planet and hold on to their soil samples taken by the rover.  Students will also be getting in to flight and rocketry as well!  Students will also get a chance to make a hot air balloon, design a glider, and also make a plane!

Rotation 4 is officially in the books and the first year of STEM Academy FAB LAB Level 1 was a HUGE success!  Thank you to all students and families in helping make it the great experience that it was!  All students who participated now have access to the Fab Lab and its equipment!  They can utilize school materials or bring in their own in.  Please stay tuned in to next year for FAB LAB 2 and FAB LAB 1 again for those who didn't get to take it this year.  We will be offering a SUMMER FAB LAB for those interested as well.  If you have children at Randall, we are also working on running workshops in the FAB LAB for students at Randall this year still.

In rotation five, students are either working on the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge OR Environmental Engineering.  Students in Environmental are working on their wind turbine designs and then getting in to their life cycle of a recyclable product chart.  Students in the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge are working on their portfolios and working within their teams to build their portfolios.  The challenge day is set for APRIL 27TH FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND IN THE AFTERNOON ONLY FOR THE EVENT.