Foundations of Woodworking

Client:
Humanmade
Completion date:
January 1, 2022
Category:
Curricula

The challenge

Humanmade is a public workshop offering access to industrial tools and equipment. To use the equipment new members must take short training sessions called FSOs (Fundamental Safety and Operations). Initially, these trainings suited the mostly experienced member base. However the training was often not sufficient for inexperienced members. While it provided them the skills to stay safe within the shop, it did not give them the skills required to use the space efficiently and confidently.

The development process

The course was designed using adult learning principles to ensure relevance and effectiveness.

  • The course is project-based, with the projects being both immediately useful to participants and also including skills that can be directly applied to their first independent projects.
  • Projects emphasize practical skills over theory, abstract theory and concepts are only introduced when they are immediately applicable to the projects.
  • The development process followed a backwards-design process. I started with the projects themselves, which covered a wide variety of skills. Then the rest of the class content worked backwards to introduct the necessary skills and knowledge to complete those projects.
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The results

  • As an unexpected effect, the course attracted new members unfamiliar with Humanmade or makerspaces, seeking woodworking skills.
  • Trainees showed more autonomy than those who only took FSO training, requiring less staff supervision and assistance.
  • Trainees were more likely to become members and remain members longer than those who only took FSO training.
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