Spark Innolab Class Offerings
We offer classes in our facility in Melbourne, Florida. Below are some of the skillshops, workshops, and makershops we are planning. More details coming soon!
3D Printing
Foundations of 3D Printing
This skillshop will introduce students to the world of 3D printing. By the end of the session, students will understand the mechanics of the printer, basic setup and maintenance, software options, and how to select a file to print. This class is a foundational class for all other offerings in this category.
Intro to 3D Printing
This skillshop explores finding and selecting pre-designed files, and then moving on to make minor modifications to personalize a design.
Intro to Computer Aided Design
This skillshop will introduce students to the basics of bringing simple ideas to life from scratch via computer aided design.
3D Printing Makershop
During these open work hours, students will work on their own designs. There will be a knowledgeable teacher in the room to assist, however there will not be direct instruction. Students must have completed both Intro to 3D printing and Intro to Computer Aided Design (or demonstrate equivalent knowledge) before attending a Printing Makershop.
Build a 3D Printer
Really want to understand how a 3D printer works? In this week long summer series, students will assemble their own 3D printer, learning about each component as they go.
Electronics
Foundations of Electronics
This skillshop will introduce the world of electronics. By the end of the session, students will understand safety and terminology for electronics. During the class, students will build a basic lightbulb circuit, and then an intruder alarm. This class is foundational for all other offerings in this category.
Moving with Motors
In this worskhop, students will create their own electromagnet, and then create a basic motor. Through these projects, students will come to understand how to make things move with electricity and magnets.
Generating Electricity
This workshop will introduce generators. Students will make a shake generator, and learn to power an LED with a lemon.
Building Breadboard Circuits
This workshop introduces the breadboard. Students will power an LED and build their first breadboard circuit. T
Capacitors and Relays
Students in this workshop will begin working with capacitors and relays as they experiment with blinking lights.
Soldering
Foundations of Soldering
This skillshop will introduce the soldering iron, including foundational safety knowledge and technical skills. Students will solder a small make-and-take jitterbug.
Foundations of Soldering
This workshop expands foundational skills to a practice project of soldering a small game board. Each student will have a make-and-take board that plays five games.
Soldering an LED Circuit
This workshop will introduce soldering on a breadboard. Students must have completed Foundations of Soldering, Building Breadboards Circuits, and Capacitors & Relays in order to enroll in this class.
Transistors
To introduce transistors, potentiometers, and photoresisters, students will build a circuit that senses touch and then a sunrise alarm. Requires soldering.
Micro-processors
Foundations of Arduino
In this skillshop, students will be introduced to the Arduino Microprocessor. They will install the IDE on their laptops, create a first sketch, create a blinking LED, and work with loops. Students must have completed the electronics series before starting this workshop.
Robotics
Robot Wars Introduction
This skillshop will provide an overview of the rules of the Spark Robot Wars. Students will discuss the different potential designs of antweight robots, and generate ideas to get started.
Robot Wars Makershop
During these open work hours, students will work on their own antweight robots. There will be a knowledgeable teacher in the room to assist, however there will not be direct instruction. Students must have completed appropriate coursework in 3D printing, electronics, and soldering before they will be allowed to utilize Spark equipment. Student must have attended Robot Wars Introduction before enrolling in this course.
Robot Wars Tournament
More details coming soon!
Cybersecurity, Amateur Radio, & Rocketry