Fablab Junior

Within the 'Fablab Junior' project, playgrounds in Flanders work for one week with the Fablab Junior toolkit. This includes a desktop laser cutter and a 3D printer. Using innovative techniques and a creative approach, youngsters aged ten to fourteen are encouraged in an informal way to learn about technology, science and mathematics and a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Research theme: Young makers

Field of interest: Education

Duration: 28/02/2014 - 28/02/2015

Financing: Andere

Good practices for primary and secondary education were also developed. Teachers and pupils of third grade primary and first grade secondary education from eight schools got to work with the 3D printers and laser cutters. The results of this research in formal education were presented at a study day in September 2015.

Fablab Junior is funded as a bridging project by the Agentschap Ondernemen (1 December 2013 tot 30 November 2015). The project is also recognised by the IWT (Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie) as a CiCi project (1 March 2014 to 28 February 2015).

Partners

The project is coordinated by the Science Communication Expertise Centre of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and developed together with the Arteveldehogeschool (didactic underpinning) and the Erasmushogeschool Brussel (technical expertise). The network of the Flemish Playground Service will ensure a broad roll-out of the project in Flanders and Brussels.