Monthly Archives: June 2020

Fab Lab, Virtual STEMinars

Virtual STEMinars Wrap-Up

Our virtual spring STEMinars recently concluded with a total of 1,509 participants in over 48 different topic sessions.  Virtual sessions were offered on coding, cybersecurity, laser engraving, 3D printing, digital design, robotics, and cloud computing.

Participants included K-12 students, college students, community members, NOVA faculty/staff, and some national and international participants.  Session facilitators included NOVA faculty and NOVA Fab Lab staff, and Cybersecurity sessions were offered in partnership with the ISACA Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter.

New sessions are scheduled to be offered in the fall. https://www.nvcc.edu/systemic/steminars.html

Fab Lab

NOVA Fab Lab PPE Donated in Fight Against COVID-19

During the the COVID-19 crisis we were eager to use our new Fab-Lab capabilities to design and manufacture DIY face shields for the citizens on the front lines. However, with the Lab closed and access to machinery limited we faced some hurdles. We decided to design, prototype, and fabricate two entirely different versions that could be made simultaneously on separate machines. This has allowed us to double our anticipated production even while working remotely.

On May 29, we delivered NOVA Fab Lab crafted PPE to the oncology team at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. NOVA Systemic Fab Lab guru Richard Sewell assembled 300 (plus more to come) Laser-Cut Cast-Acrylic Face Shields and Gerry Hofler from the NOVA Medical Education Campus facilitated the delivery.

For more details check out the Fab Lab PPE blog at: https://nvccppe.wixsite.com/fablab

STEM Camps, STEM Resources Online, Virtual Events

Virtual STEM Camps at-a-glance

Our Virtual STEM Camps are underway! Virtual STEM Camps are the perfect pivot from traditional in-person STEM activities to safe-at-home STEM engagement. Our curriculum includes hands-on projects with micro:bit, scratch, VEX robotics, fabrication and cybersecurity tools for elementary to high school ages students. We’re bringing STEM to you and making it affordable as a single sign-up is good for the whole family!

Virtual STEM Camp General Info:
– Camps run June 1 through August 21
– Offerings for rising 3rd through 12th Grade
– Zoom will be used as the video conferencing platform.
– Camps usually run for 5 days/90 minutes a day.
– One-week camps start at $98 plus the cost of materials.
– Instructional cost is per household, per camp. Only need to pay extra for cost of materials. You can engage with multiple laptops in the same household.
– Select camps will provide technical support prior to camp for software downloads.
– For all VEX Robotics camps and Scratch 1 & 3 (Coding) camps, sign-up closes the Sunday before the camp starts, so you can sign up one day ahead at the latest.
– For all other camps sign-up closes on Sunday the week prior to allow time for materials to be shipped, so please sign-up at least 8 days before camp starts.

Virtual STEM Camp Tracks (4): Coding, VEX Robotics, Cybersecurity, Fabrication
For detailed camp descriptions go to https://www.nvcc.edu/systemic/camps.html

CODING (Grades 3-8)

Micro:bit Level 1 $98 (additional micro:bit $30 each)
June 1-5 | 1:30pm – 3pm
June 8-12 | 9:30am – 11am
July 20-24 | 9:30am – 11am

Scratch Level 1 $98
June 1-5 | 9:30am – 11am
June 8-12 | 1:30pm – 3pm
July 27-31 | 1:30pm – 3pm

Combined Scratch/Micro:bit Level 1 $186 (additional micro:bit $30 each)
June 22-26 | 10:30am – 2:30pm

Combined Scratch/Micro:bit Level 2 $98 (additional micro:bit $30 each)
June 29-July 3 (4 days) | 9:30am – 11:30am or 1pm – 3pm
July 6-10 (4 days) | 9:30am – 11:30am or 1pm – 3pm
July 27-31 (4 days) | 9:30am – 11:30am

Micro:Maqueen Level 3 $98 (additional micro:bit and micro:maqueen cost $30 each)
July 13-17 | 9:30am – 11:30am or 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Aug 3-7 | 9:30am – 11:30am

Advanced Scratch Level 3 $98
July 20-24 | 9:30am – 11:30am or 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Aug 3-7 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm

VEX ROBOTICS (Grades 4-10)

VEX IQ Challenge Camp $196 (Grades 4-8)
June 8-12 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm
June 15-19 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm
June 29-July 3 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
July 13-17 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
July 27-31 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Aug 10-14 | 10:30am – 2:30pm

VEX Robotics Competition Camp $196 (Grades 6-10)
June 29-July 3 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm
July 6-10 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
July 20-24 | 10:30am – 2:30pm
Aug 3-7 | 10:30am – 2:30pm

CYBERSECURITY (Grades 9-12)

Foundations of Cybersecurity $98
June 15-19 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm
July 13-17 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm

Ethical Hacking & Digital Forensics $98
June 22-26 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm
July 27-31 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm

Network Security & Encryption $98
July 6-10 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm
Aug 3-7 | 9:30am – 11am or 1:30pm – 3pm

FABRICATION JUNIOR (Grades 4-7) – Materials and Shipping Included

Fab Junior Level 1 $148 (additional material packs $50)
June 22-26 | 9:30am – 11am
June 29-July 3 (4 days) | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
July 6-10 | 9:30am – 11am
July 13-17 | 1:30pm – 3pm
July 20-24 | 1:30pm – 3pm

Fab Junior Level 2: 3D Printing $123 (additional material packs $25)
July 27-31 | 9:30pm – 11am

Fab Junior Level 2: Laser Cutting/Engraving $123 (additional material packs $25)
Aug 3-7 | 9:30am – 11am
Aug 10-14 | 1:30pm-3pm

Fab Junior Level 3: CNC Routing Made Easy $123 (additional material packs $25)
Aug 17-21 | 1:30pm – 3pm

FABRICATION SENIOR (Grades 8-12) – Materials and Shipping Included

Fab Senior Level 1 $163 (additional material packs $65)
June 22-26 | 1:30pm – 3pm
June 29-July 3 (4 days) | 9:30am – 11:30am
July 6-10 | 1:30pm – 3pm
July 13-17 | 9:30am – 11am
July 20-24 | 9:30am – 11am

Fab Senior Level 2: 3D Printing $123 (additional material packs $25)
July 27-31 | 1:30pm – 3pm

Fab Senior Level 2: Laser Cutting/Engraving $123 (additional material packs $25)
Aug 3-7 | 1:30pm – 3pm

Fab Senior Level 2: E-Textiles $123 (additional material packs $25)
Aug 10-14 | 9:30pm – 11am
Aug 17-21 | 1:30pm – 3pm

Fab Senior Level 3: Engineering Challenge $246 (additional material packs $50).
July 27-Aug 7 (10 days)  | 9:30am – 11am