INFO 415

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

Introduces learners to a variety of rapid prototyping and fabrication techniques in collaboration with the CU Community Fab Lab. Weekly class lecture will introduce students to trends and ideas in Makerspaces, Peer-to-Peer learning, design processes, creativity, computational thinking, and practicing makers. Each week students will be provided a general project prompt and set to work with a tool area in response to a simple design exploration challenge. Over the course of the semester they will have an opportunity to become familiar with the basics of several advanced small-scale manufacturing tools, such as 3D printers, laser engravers, digital embroidery machines, graphic drawing tablets and small board electronics. The class will have both group and independent work and make use of an online portal for assignment hand-in and peer-feedback. Please note that this course will emphasize self-guided learning and time management, students will need to rely on online tutorials and information resources to explore methods and complete much of the work in a rapid-response fashion; students will need to come into FabLab open hours outside of normal lab times to complete projects. Projects will be small and contained, in order to allow for exposure to several tools and mediums. Students who have taken a different Makerspace course at the FabLab previously are eligible to participate in this class, but it is also not a requirement. Graduate students will have an additional documentation project component emphasizing digital literacy.

Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Credit is not given for INFO 415 and INFO 490 ALU/ALG "Makerspace: Open Studio" sections.