Objectives

The Educational Technologies Laboratory | STEAM LAB is a space dedicated to practical learning and innovation, based on the emerging concepts of Maker Space or FabLab. In this lab it is possible to use digital fabrication tools to develop practical projects, create manipulable resources, test prototypes and explore concepts relating to various areas of knowledge.

The main specific objectives are:

• Support the development of teaching tools: create tools and resources to implement teaching sequences based on STEAM approaches;
• Stimulate creativity and innovation: provide an environment where students and members of the academic community can explore different materials and technologies to create unique projects that develop original solutions to real problems;
• Promoting the development of technical and digital skills: offering access to advanced tools and equipment, such as 3D printers, laser cutting machines, CNC machines, microcontrollers and robotics kits, so that students and members of the academic community can acquire and improve technical and digital skills;
• Encouraging collaborative work and transdisciplinary learning: providing a laboratory space with an informal atmosphere conducive to collaborative work, so that students from different areas of knowledge can work together on transdisciplinary projects.
• Development of adapted materials: supporting the prototyping and manufacture of teaching materials adapted for students with additional support needs, educational games, and tactile resources that aid the teaching process through multisensory approaches.

Description of the space

The STEAM LAB is organised into 5 areas, physically interconnected:

• Digital Fabrication Area
• Wood Workshop Area
• Electrotechnics area
• Educational Robotics Area
• Immersive Technologies and Multimedia Area
• Tinkering Area

Description of the main equipment

Digital fabrication equipment

• 3D printers (3DP)
• Plastic recycling and filament production line for 3DP
• Laser cutting machine
• CNC machine
• Cutting plotters
• Workshop equipment
• Various circular saws for cutting wood
• Screwdrivers
• Grinder
• Compressors

Electrotechnical equipment and educational robotics

• Microcontrollers (Arduino and micro:bit) and
• Various sensors
• Soldering stations
• Various educational robotics kits (Lego Education, Kubo Coding...)

Multimedia equipment for producing immersive content

• Virtual Reality glasses (Metaquest 3 and CardBoards)
• Stereoscopic lens for VR
• 360° video cameras
• Portable dome for 360° video projection
• Various multimedia equipment

Manual manufacturing equipment

• Sewing machine
• Airbrush

Source of funding

Horizon 2020

Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR)

Contact person

Pedro Rodrigues (pedrorodrigues@ese.ipp.pt)

Rui Teles (rteles@ese.ipp.pt)