Concepts of CNC

Project brief

Client:

Humanmade

Currently, all equipment training at Humanmade is on-site and instructor led, combining safety, theory, and practical skills in the same sessions. This works well for most equipment, especially in the woodshop and metal shop where hands-on skills are crucial.

However, CNC machines are the most complex tools in the shop, and require a significant amount of theory and computer skills that must be understood before touching the machine, which makes in-person training inefficient.

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Development

When redesigning Humanmade training, I aimed to enhance efficiency and support for all skill levels by incorporating e-learning modules.

Current training materials include printed booklets and 1-page job aids, which are limited in information, can't be updated after printing, and lack multimedia capabilities. E-learning addresses these issues while also allowing users to learn at their own pace. Novices can take their time, revisit information, and access supplementary resources, while experienced users can skip familiar content and focus on filling in knowledge gaps.

While hands-on tools will always require some in-person training or instructor skill verification, I believe that developing online content can streamline in-person sessions, accommodate larger groups, and potentially reduce costs for trainees and the organization.

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The solution

The prototype I created uses a hybrid training and flipped classroom approach. Learners use e-learning modules at home for pre-training, allowing 100% of valuable classroom and instructor time to be used for hands-on practice and applying theory.

By offering theory modules electronically, learners can also revisit information even after training, turning the course into a more comprehensive resource than standard job aids for those needing extra support.

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The results

This training program is still in development, but early results are promising:

  • Learners who completed the electronic pre-training scored the same or higher on comprehension and knowledge retention tests.
  • These learners successfully transferred terminology and concepts during in-person practice sessions.
  • Despite varying times to complete interactive lessons, all learners showed similar improvement, highlighting the importance of self paced learning that can adapt to learners with different needs.

If successful ,we also plan to produce beginner-friendly CNC project guides for learners to practice their skills, supporting learners even after their training.

What it looks like

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ShopBot Pre-training

Video examples

Turning a bowl

A short promotional video showing a montage of how to turn a small bowl on the wood lathe. Meant to encourage new members to try the wood lathe training.

Saw blade choice

A short video showing the benefits and drawbacks of the most common styles of table saw blades.

CMS training

The organization is changing from one CRM system to another. This is a brief video showing how to book workshop equipment in the new system.

What is CNC

An introduction to CNC machines at the Humanmade woodshop. What they can do, their history, and how something goes from digital design to being cut.

Look below to learn more about me and to see a selection of my recent work.
Click any image below to see more about each project.

Concepts of CNC

E-learning module created for a hybrid training program. Participants learn key concepts before attending in-person training to apply those concepts.

Hybrid equipment training

An e-learning module created to test a hybrid training approach. It can also act as an interactive job-aid reference for woodshop users after training.

Youth makerspace program

A youth exposure program designed for Summit Shasta high school to introduce students to traditional and mondern manufacturing techniques used in a makerspace.

Training manuals update

This project involved updating and standardizing the training material available to participants in Humanmade's makerspace FSO (Fundamental Safety & Operations) training sessions.

Foundations of Woodworking

A project-based introduction to the essential skills required in the modern woodshop. Students are introduced to power tool safety and workflows while completing a series of craft projects.