Problem Statement
CCSF has strong, well-established STEAM programs and a proven record of workforce innovation, including best practices developed through national grants and industry partnerships. However, across our large urban college, a network of a main campus and nine centers, we see gaps in connectivity in many areas. Students who are ethnically- and gender-diverse or socio-economically disadvantaged connect to STEAM pathways in lower numbers. Our faculty lack space and a platform to connect across programs and to industry resources that support the development of new world of work skills in the classroom. We see a need to build internal connections, to support and encourage faculty to create interdisciplinary courses and scale evidence-based practices focused on increased student inclusion and 21st century skills.
Strategy
The CCSF Maker Sphere will launch in Fall 2017 with faculty- and student-involved development of three Makerspace hubs and integration of Making into existing curriculum. By Spring 2018, donated TelePresence and networking technology will be installed to create an encompassing, accessible “sphere” of Making. Students will collaborate across disciplines, Maker and lab spaces, and internship sites, practicing Making while experiencing the interconnectedness of school and work, science and art, technology and creativity. By Fall 2018, new Maker courses and certificate will structure paths to STEAM careers, while flexible offerings of workshops, badges, and events will allow for student exploration and faculty response to emerging needs. The Community of Practice will drive continuous improvement, growth, and sustainability of the Maker Sphere.
Internships
Students will access a continuum of Maker Sphere work-based learning that translates 21st Century Skills into real-world problem-solving. Of the 50 paid internships offered over 2 years, some will be administered by CWEE, enabling students to earn transferable college credit and receive faculty advising. CCSF will collaborate with the FCCC on infrastructure, and student wages will be matched, as needed, through the college’s SWP funds. The CWEE Associate Dean and Employment and Training Specialists will manage and evaluate the internship program. Specialists will connect to employers, prepare students individually for internships, and support the Industry Advisory Council. CCSF will offer on-campus TechSpot internships, developed through a NSF ATE project, and SF Made internships will contextualize soft skills training for manufacturing.
Three Makers Spaces: MakerSphere
Our approach is three spaces starting in Fall 2017. By Spring 2018 these “hubs” will connect via networking technology as a holistic Maker Sphere, laying the groundwork for future expansion. (1) The CCSF Ocean Campus Library Collaboratory Makerspace, equipped with “clean” equipment and offering outreach and community events; (2) The CCSF Ocean Campus SMART Makerspace, equipped with an ambient intelligent networked environment, laser and fabrication materials, and mid- weight equipment for individual and class use; and (3) The CCSF Evans Center Industrial Makerspace, co-located with the college’s Welding, Automotive, Construction and Fashion/Upholstery departments, equipped with heavy industrial equipment. Courses and certificates will be anchored initially in 8 departments.
Curriculum
Faculty will transform curriculum by embedding hands-on, creative and interdisciplinary projects, human-centered design, networked collaboration and WBL. Our goal is to stack workshops and courses to prepare students for Maker-influenced careers. Faculty will collaborate and implement a tiered Maker-learning strategy, promoted in the community and across CCSF, with intentional engagement of underrepresented populations: (1) Create modular, open-access Maker skills courses, including internship preparation; (2) Integrate Maker curriculum into existing STEAM courses; (3) Embed and connect Making content to existing certificates; (4) Develop new courses; (5) Adopt Badges, like Mozilla; (6) Create interdepartmental certificate; (7) Support individual creative product design and fabrication; (8) Offer continuous open projects at Evans hub e.g. Tiny House; and (9) Coordinate campus hackathons and student showcases.
Community
A Community of Practice (COP) inclusive of faculty, students, alumni, industry and other partners will continue to shape the Maker Sphere and Maker culture at CCSF. The COP will promote cross-disciplinary idea exchange, unified goals, resource and equipment sharing, curriculum and program design collaboration, professional development, and a data-driven culture. CCSF’s Maker COP will contribute actively to the statewide COP, particularly regarding a networked and connected Maker Sphere model that addresses student equity.
A component of the COP will be the convening of an Industry Advisory Council, to advise on, co-design, and participate in Maker Sphere programming. Commitments from the following partners are in place: Cisco, SF Made, SFUSD, SFSU, SF Chamber of Commerce STEM Pipeline, Subaru, and United Airlines.
