In a dynamic meeting of the minds, Fab Academy Instructors Bootcamp unfolded January 8-12, 2024 in León, Spain. Over 30 instructors from diverse corners of the globe came together, forging a vibrant global network dedicated to revolutionizing digital manufacturing education.

The bootcamp, hosted at Fab Lab León (opens new window), showcased a rich tapestry of workshops and sessions, shaping the trajectory of the Fab Academy 2024 cycle and beyond. The instructors immersed themselves in cutting-edge technologies, from mastering electronics production techniques like the NEW Quentorres (opens new window), proposed by Adrián Torres, to Lunyee + V-bits, led by Neil Gershenfeld, Henk Buursen and Jean-Michel Molenaar, exploring the intricacies of embedded programming and electronics design.

A pivotal moment during the bootcamp was the Midterm review, where instructors tackled project system diagrams, tasks, and schedules, guided by a vision to elevate the quality and impact of final projects. Neil Gershenfeld, the visionary founder of Fab Academy, added his touch, urging instructors to polish documents illuminating the construction, production, and operation of final projects—empowering future students with comprehensive insights.

The workshops were an exploration of innovation. Instructors delved into realms that define the avant-garde of advanced manufacturing—from the Ferret Pro (opens new window) scanner unlocking new dimensions in 3D printing scanning to workshops on Blender nodes, CAD Sketcher (opens new window) by Rico Kanthatham and Adai Surinach, as well as Modular Things CoreXY (opens new window) by Andri Sæmundsson and Yuichi Tamiya. A special mention goes to the Urumbu Sambot workshop, led by Jani Ylioja, which focused on embedded languages and provided instructors with tools to navigate the complexities of programming languages.

The bootcamp set the stage for a transformative journey. Instructors laid the foundation for a global community of machine builders, pushing the boundaries of open design and collaborative learning. A shared vision for the future of education emerged, in which Fab Academy harnesses 15 years of experience to be a beacon of hands-on, inclusive, and globally coordinated learning.

The Fab Academy Instructors Bootcamp was not just a gathering; it was a convergence of pioneering minds shaping the future of digital manufacturing education. The journey has just begun, and as the vision takes root, Fab Academy stands poised to redefine the learning landscape.

Stay tuned for updates as the Fab Academy 2024 (opens new window) cycle unfolds, bringing a new wave of innovation and skill-building to students worldwide.

Full documentation here (opens new window).

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