A Focus on Pedagogy

Abstract

As the complexity of the tools that we design and fabricate with increases, there is a need to teach students about the potentials and limitations of these tools. Students who have advanced skills in computational design and understand the latest fabrication techniques such as 3D printing, CNC fabrication and robotic fabrication are in demand in the industry as they are thought to bring this knowledge to firms. However, the use of these tools depends on applied knowledge which students struggle to attain within the limited time of their education. Engaging with these tools requires access to extensive resources (project funding, facilities and equipment), time (design, research development and skill building) and expert supervision / instruction. In addition, to understand the capabilities of the systems well, students must engage with them through applied research projects. This paper presents the intensive robotic fabrication workshop as a tool to give a larger audience of students a targeted experiential learning opportunity to accelerate their skill building development in advanced computational design and fabrication. The intention is to bridge the knowledge gap between the conception of a design idea, the new CAD/CAM processes of making, and their potential implementation in practice. These are unique hands-on learning opportunities that increase the fluency of the students in these advanced media. Where normally students would not be able to engage with advanced robotic fabrication methodologies and outcomes until late in a graduate degree, this allows a broader range of students to participate in the late-stage processes of design, output, fabrication, construction scheduling, staging, planning and completion. The workshops are completed in five days and result in full-scale timber-structure demonstrator prototypes.