Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Mobile Fab Lab Brings "STEAM Education on the Go"

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 09/24/19

Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania debuted a new mobile fab lab that brings “STEAM education on the go.”

The mobile fab lab is a van equipped with the latest in science technology that will prepare students for the workforce. The lab’s first stop is at Seylar Elementary School where it will stay for a week and then move on to other elementary and middle schools in all 13 county school districts for week-long residencies.

Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania debuted a new mobile fab lab that brings “STEAM education on the go.”

The equipment is unloaded and placed in a cafeteria or gym for students and teachers to use. A designated specialist is assigned to the van and tailors age-appropriate curricula for each school utilizing the equipment.

Students can look forward to working with:

  • Two 3-D printers;
  • A silhouette portrait fabricator;
  • A vinyl cutter;
  • A computer numerical controller router;
  • A laser cutter; and
  • Various robotics equipment.

“The Mobile Fab Lab will support innovative teaching and learning in schools throughout all of Bucks County,” Bucks County IU Executive Director Mark Hoffman told a local newspaper. “Having a van that can move between schools allows the districts to bring cutting-edge, modern equipment directly to the students and their teachers. This helps to ensure that Bucks County schools are preparing young people today for the jobs they’ll hold tomorrow.”

The van was purchased and equipped using a $412,000 PAsmart grant from the state’s Department of Education.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Photo courtesy of Kraus-Anderson

    Minnesota District Completes $49.7M Addition, Renovation Project

    St. Paul Public Schools in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $49.7-million addition and remodeling project at two district schools, according to a news release.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Starts Construction on Healthcare Education Hub

    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., recently announced that work has begun on a renovation project that will turn the Stewart Building into a new Healthcare Education Hub, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Sundt Construction Inc. for construction services.