Education

Fab Lab provides informal educational programming as well as workshop development and implementation.



A brief video describing the Fab Lab educational environment, produced by Diego Media.

Educational Programming in the Fab Lab

Fab Lab has served the community of San Diego by granting learners of all ages a free space within which to experiment and create. Hundreds of Lab users and students have received no-cost staff attention, training, machine use and even the materials needed to create their ideas.

In this capacity, Fab Lab has acted as a community-based innovation center, functioning under the concept that many people have the potential for innovation, but lack the tools needed to make their ideas a reality. During this time, The Fab Lab, through host organization Heads On Fire has acted as a bridge – a place where advanced technology is accessible, and a place where anyone can invent and execute an original design.  This outreach effort has been made possible by grant support from some of our donors, namely Price Charities.

The Fab Lab has focused on serving youth in the City Heights and Colina Park neighborhoods, from which students are generally under-represented at the university level and experience higher than average high school drop out rate. By providing an informal learning center where learners are encouraged through the guidance of staff and mentors in a creative and hands-on environment, a sense of ownership in personal education is fostered.

These programs offer experiences in design, science, engineering, electronics, computation, mathematics and the scientific method through a self-directed, project-based learning curriculum, resulting in personal development and real-world skill attainment. By focusing on programs that address empowerment, education, innovation, production and creativity, we aim to achieve individual and community development, empowering the individual and the community through accessible and relevant learning.