Stephenson Makeda K, Dow Douglas E
Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2014;2014:1821-5. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2014.6943963.
Skill development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education present one of the most formidable challenges of modern society. The Community FabLab platform presents a viable solution. Each FabLab contains a suite of modern computer numerical control (CNC) equipment, electronics and computing hardware and design, programming, computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided machining (CAM) software. FabLabs are community and educational resources and open to the public. Development of STEM based workforce skills such as digital fabrication and advanced manufacturing can be enhanced using this platform. Particularly notable is the potential of the FabLab platform in STEM education. The active learning environment engages and supports a diversity of learners, while the iterative learning that is supported by the FabLab rapid prototyping platform facilitates depth of understanding, creativity, innovation and mastery. The product and project based learning that occurs in FabLabs develops in the student a personal sense of accomplishment, self-awareness, command of the material and technology. This helps build the interest and confidence necessary to excel in STEM and throughout life. Finally the introduction and use of relevant technologies at every stage of the education process ensures technical familiarity and a broad knowledge base needed for work in STEM based fields. Biomedical engineering education strives to cultivate broad technical adeptness, creativity, interdisciplinary thought, and an ability to form deep conceptual understanding of complex systems. The FabLab platform is well designed to enhance biomedical engineering education.
科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）教育中的技能培养是现代社会最艰巨的挑战之一。社区制造实验室（FabLab）平台提供了一个可行的解决方案。每个制造实验室都配备了一套现代计算机数控（CNC）设备、电子和计算硬件以及设计、编程、计算机辅助设计（CAD）和计算机辅助制造（CAM）软件。制造实验室是社区和教育资源，向公众开放。利用这个平台可以加强基于STEM的劳动力技能开发，如数字制造和先进制造。制造实验室平台在STEM教育中的潜力尤其显著。积极的学习环境吸引并支持多样化的学习者，而制造实验室快速原型平台所支持的迭代学习有助于加深理解、创造力、创新和掌握程度。在制造实验室中进行的基于产品和项目的学习能培养学生的个人成就感、自我意识、对材料和技术的掌握能力。这有助于培养在STEM领域及整个生活中取得优异成绩所需的兴趣和信心。最后，在教育过程的每个阶段引入和使用相关技术可确保对技术的熟悉程度以及在基于STEM的领域工作所需的广泛知识基础。生物医学工程教育致力于培养广泛的技术能力、创造力、跨学科思维以及对复杂系统形成深入概念理解的能力。制造实验室平台经过精心设计，可加强生物医学工程教育。
