Mobile Fab Lab
Our Mobile Fab Lab (fabrication laboratory), one of only 50 in the United States, was created to inspire and encourage students in grades 1-8 to pursue careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) fields. The Mobile Fab Lab itself is a large transit van that transports several carts full of equipment such as a laser engraver, 3d printers (below left wit printed items in front), CNC router, vinyl cutters (bottom right), and a variety of robotics equipment. It also has laptop computers and iPads with specialized software programs to control and interact with the equipment.
The Mobile Fab Lab visits schools throughout Bucks County for one-week residencies. The Fab Lab Program Coordinator accompanies the van and works with each school to provide age-appropriate curricula utilizing the equipment in ways supporting 21st century learning. Students love the hands-on, interactive learning opportunity this program provides!
Our Mobile Fab Lab continues to be in extremely high demand and is completely booked for the 2021-2022 school year. Please contact us at STEAM@BucksIU.org to be placed on the waiting list. Stay tuned to this website for 2022-2023 school year registration!
For those who registered, once your registration is confirmed and your week scheduled, the Bucks IU Mobile Fab Lab Team will work collaboratively with you to create a daily schedule, identify lessons that compliment what your students are learning, and work through the logistical preparations for your Residency.
Watch this video to see how much the students at Seyler Elementary School (Pennridge School District) enjoyed their Mobile Fab Lab residency and details on the program from Dr. Lindsey Sides, Bucks IU Supervisor of STEAM Education.
Mobile Fab Lab School Residency Information and Registration
The Bucks IU Mobile Fab Lab is a transit van that contains state-of-the-art equipment and standards-aligned lessons/ activities to engage students in grades 1-8 in digital fabrication and computer science learning. The Mobile Fab Lab will visit schools for a one-week residency throughout the school year. Once your week has been scheduled, the Bucks IU Mobile Fab Lab Team will work collaboratively with you to create a daily schedule, identify lessons that compliment and enhance what your students are learning, and work through the logistical preparations for your Residency. School residencies will be scheduled on a first-come basis.
The 2023-2024 school year residency registration is currenty full except for a few Act 89 residencies. Contact us at FabLab@BucksIU.org should you:
- Be eligible for an Act 89 residency and wish to register for one, or
- Like to placed on our school residency wait list!