(North Bergen--February 13, 2016) Formerly known as the
Academy of Architecture & Contemporary Themes (AACT), the Digital Design
and Fabrication Academy (D|FAB) at High Tech High School aims to usher in a new
generation of leaders and workers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics fields, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech
High School.
Rooted
in liberal arts values, D|FAB offers students a range of vocational instruction
in cutting-edge machinery and technology, provided by experts in their
respective fields. D|FAB, the entry
point for High Tech’s industry-supported Force21 initiative, addresses the need
for high-paying, high-demand careers in manufacturing fields.
D|FAB
prepares High Tech students for college or careers in architecture, fine arts,
interior design, urban planning, industrial design, industrial engineering,
mechanical engineering, mechatronics, automotive technology, digital
fabrication, programming, and wood technology.
This innovative academy provides basic skills (e.g., sketching, Adobe
InDesign, Photoshop, AutoCad, and 3DMax) while reaching beyond the traditional classroom
environment into the landscape of practical vocational training so much in
demand these days.
Students
witness programmers writing code for industrial designers who work hand-in-hand
with machinists; review careers in STEM fields via field trips, guest speakers,
and job shadowing; select pathway courses and dedicate themselves to them;
obtain a knowledge of applications including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and
InDesign, Rhino and Python, and elements of CAD/CAM; and commit to a vocational
program in earnest preparation for post-secondary study and/or employment.
D|FAB
students eventually chose a field in which they intent to excel, cultivating
innovative and technically exceptional projects in their respective subjects. They
focus extensively on problem solving, creative cultivation, portfolio
development, historical and contextual understanding, and group work dynamics,
nurturing projects of personal interest. Students often work collaboratively in a
fabrication lab, employing machinery/technological equipment such as 3D
Printers, CNC Router, and Laser Cutters, along with the computer programs required
for these tools.
