Jim Correll, director Fab Lab ICC at Independence Community College, Independence Kansas 

One way or another, sooner or later, we’re going to put this pandemic behind us and feel safe to meet in groups again. Some think it will be the day after the election and some think it won’t be until the year 2022. I believe it will be sometime after the first of the year, 2021. People are not made to live and work in isolation and a life filled with Zoom meetings and kids attending school through an Internet device is not sustainable. 

Even with the delays and disruption of the shutdowns, we at the Lab have made progress in outfitting the new building with added capabilities. All of our machine capabilities, along with our collective knowledge in entrepreneurship and small business development make for an almost endless list of possible learning-by-doing activities in the upcoming year. All of our learning opportunities are offered to anyone in the community whether members of the Lab or not. 

Endless Learning Possibilities 

How do we even begin to make a list of all the possible classes, seminars and even individual learning possibilities? Let alone figure out how to prioritize and organize them into an order of development and offering. We are a regional community resource and our possibilities to offer learning opportunities are as diverse as the population we serve. If only we could gather feedback and input from our community to help us figure out which offerings are the most popular. We’ve been working on just such a tool for a while now and have a “beta” version available on our web site, the Class Wish List. The word “Class” used here represents a broad range of offerings from short, one-session seminars to multi-week classes and everything in between. 

Visit The “Class Wish List” Page at www.fablabicc.org 

The “Class Wish List,” the first of two sections is an expanding listing of offerings that we could possibly offer. Additions to the list are made not only by Fab Lab staff as we speak to members of the community but also by the community members themselves. This is accomplished through the second section of the page; where you can indicate your interest in up to three of the current offerings, as well as suggest classes and offerings you’d like to see. After a quick review, your suggestions will be added to the list. 

As we promote this feature, soliciting input from across our entire regional community, we monitor the interest collected. Whenever interest reaches a “critical mass,” we’ll know to move forward with planning and development of that class. “Critical mass” may vary according to the type of learning opportunity, but in general seeing that 10 – 15 people are interested in a certain class would indicate that it’s time to develop and offer the class. We have a network rich in talent and knowledge to facilitate and conduct these classes. 

What Kinds of Learning Could We Offer? 

Here are some of examples of the kinds of classes we will and could possibly offer in 2021. First, there are our two existing classes that will start soon after mid-January. Entrepreneurial Mindset is about learning from entrepreneurs, both in person and in a video interview series, about how they perceive problems in their world as opportunities waiting for solutions. The popular Guitar Fabrication, making a fully functioning, quality electric guitar (6 string or 4 string bass), will also begin soon after mid-January. Both classes will be held one evening each week through the first part of May; Mindset on Thursdays 6 PM to 8 PM, Guitar Fab Wednesdays 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. In February, in collaboration with AARP, we’ll offer “Work For Yourself at 50+” a one-session 2-hour seminar designed to help those 50+ examine the possibility of going into business for themselves, either as a side-hustle or in some cases, a full-time business. 

While Entrepreneurial Mindset is a great class for someone thinking about starting a business, several classes are contemplated geared toward existing owners to help them grow their businesses. Included will be subject matter in areas of marketing, becoming a destination, legal and employment issues, using financial information to better manage the business, and improving the customer experience. 

We’ve had interest in fabricating acoustic guitars. Although this involves a new level of knowledge and tools, our instructor is an expert and as soon as we have sufficient interest, we’ll acquire the tools and get an acoustic class on the schedule. Likewise, there is some interest in a class where the objective is to build a guitar amplifier. 

In the area of using Fab Lab equipment and capability, we can offer basic instruction in laser etching and computerized sheet cutting both metallic (plasma) and non-metallic (wood router.) Also welding, painting and wide media printing (banners and vinyl.) There’s vinyl cutting, sewing, quilting and embroidery. There’s 3D printing, graphic design, Photoshop and Corel Draw. 

This is the tip of the iceberg and we want your input to expand the list and help us decide in what order we should proceed. Visit www.fablabicc.org, click the “Class Wish List” link along the top of the home page. Look through the list and tell us which are of interest to you and add anything you don’t see but think should be on the list. We’ll be watching and notify you when we’re ready to take action. In some cases, we may want you to help define the objectives of the class. 

We so look forward to seeing people in classes in the Lab again. “Doing” is the best way of learning and that’s what a Fab Lab is all about. 

 

Jim Correll is the director of Fab Lab ICC at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the campus of Independence Community College. He can be reached at (620) 252-5349, by email at jcorrell@indycc.edu or Twitter @jimcorrellks. Archive columns and podcast at jimcorrell.com.