Learning NODES Registration

Intro

The Fab Learning Academy (FLA) is a distributed educational program that globally certifies educators using digital fabrication with students in both formal and informal settings. This is a hybrid program, with virtual classes and in-person lab sessions. The content is taught in English.

Learning Nodes (LN)

Learning Nodes or Nodes provide local, hands-on, and practical learning experience for FLA program participants.
Nodes can opt to participate on a year-by-year basis.

Responsibilities:

Weekly Prep-meeting. LN participate in the weekly prep-meeting, ensuring they are ready to support local educational activities, coordinate with the Coordination Hub, and provide valuable insights.

Coordination Hub & Nodes Meetings - Deltas Updates. LN actively engage in coordination meetings, sharing updates, feedback, and ensuring that information flows between the Coordination Hub, other Learning Nodes, and participants.
Infrastructure - Fab Lab Costs. LN are responsible for managing the infrastructure within their Fab Labs, including handling costs related to electricity and other resources.

Local Support - Workshops, Fabrication Weekly Tasks. LN provide local support to participants, including organizing and facilitating workshops and weekly fabrication tasks. They ensure that participants have access to hands-on experience with digital fabrication tools and technologies.

Employee (FD Expert) - FLA Instructor. LN employ Fabrication and Design (FD) experts who also serve as instructors within the FLA (Fab Educators Academy). These experts are responsible for guiding participants in their learning journey.

Materials - FLA Inventory. LN manage the inventory of materials required for participants' practical activities. They ensure that participants have access to the necessary tools and materials.

 

Requirements

• Internet connection (at least 1mb upload/download).
• A common space for students to work.
• Access to the fabrication facilities (min. of 3 hrs per week).
• Qualified staff (min. 3hrs week min).
• All the equipment and materials listed in the FLA Inventory.

 

Fees

The standard cost of FLA is 3,500$ per student. In this scenario, Learning Nodes get 1,900$ per student, the totality of Local Cost

Central costs (1,600$) are fixed and local costs are variable. Nodes can adapt their local fees to local prices.

Local Learning Instructor

Each learning node is required to have a local instructor to teach technical skills and to help participating educators with physical projects in the lab. This person must also attend the weekly local instructor meetings and the global master classes. The local instructor must be a paid position (paid by the you, the local learning node) and is estimated to spend between 3 and 10 hours of work for FLA per week.

Materials and Technology

In order to participate as a Learning Node, your lab must be equipped with the updated FLA inventory list, which is located here:

Fab Learning Academy Inventory

 

Scheduling

Weekly, there are four components of the curriculum.

• Global Masterclass: 90 minutes, synchronous, virtual meetings with all participating teachers (this is led by global instructors) currently Mondays- 8:00-9:30 Eastern US time
• Local Lab Class: 2-4 hours of hands-on local instruction on tools and technology in the lab (this is led by the local instructor)
• Asynchronous Content: 1-2 hours of content: videos, articles, other resources (participating teachers can work on their own time)
• Homework Assignments: 1-3 hours of building or making something in the lab (participating teachers can work on their own time or during an open lab- either way, the local instructor should be available for technical support)

We developed the cost of this program on a per-student basis, the standard fee of the program is $3500 USD per participant. 

  

Cost Structure
The centralized costs (or global costs ) of this certification program is $1600 USD per participant.
Learning node costs (local costs) are variable. The standard local cost is $1900 USD but you can adapt it to cover your costs: local instructor, space costs, equipment use, and materials.

Reimbursement & Taxes

In the cases in which Central Admin collects full fees, the reimbursement of Local Costs will be done after every student has paid the corresponding fees according to the deadlines.

Important: Reimbursements will be done after the Node sends an Invoice for the total amount.

NODES are Independent Contractors and are solely responsible for their own taxes under the applicable laws.

This is how the Student Application process will go:

• Applicants enroll to the listed Nodes in the online form.
• Once Central Coordination starts receiving the applications, we will forward them to the selected Nodes for their consideration.
• The Nodes must contact the Applicant to assess if they are fit for the program and give feedback to Central Coordination within 2 weeks.
• Central Coordination sends the Acceptance letters monthly to the applicants and the payment instructions
• Once the Applicant receives an Acceptance letter and pays the deposit, he/she becomes a Student.
• If the Organization will pay for their students, FLA will send an invoice 1 month later than the start of class period for the minimum global fees (3500$) or more, depending on the number of students

 

• Ensuring that all the machines and supplies required by the class are available and in good condition
• Providing adequate lab access for the class
• Selecting, supervising, and supporting the local instructors
• Monitoring safe and responsible lab use
• Following locally applicable health and safety guidance
• Promoting a respectful environment free of harassment and discrimination

Insurance

The NODE shall maintain any insurance required by law and by professional practice for their respective Labs and for FLA Project operations and, at all times during the Term, reasonable liability insurance which will, at a minimum insure, the Fab Labs and the Academy for physical damages to property and for accident, death or injury to students, volunteers, teachers, visitors and community users of the Fab Labs.