TechShop

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/techshop

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the business model type?Membership-based, open-access workshop and fabrication laboratory
2. What is the global footprint (2017)?Included ten domestic United States locations and four international sites
3. How could people use TechShop?People became members and could choose different levels of access. They got training before using the machines. They could work on projects from simple toys to small business prototypes.
4. Why did TechShop close?TechShop shut down because it was very expensive to keep all the machines and many locations running. The costs were higher than the money it made, so it filed for bankruptcy.

Fabrication Studio: A facility equipped with advanced tools for designing, prototyping, and manufacturing physical objects, often serving as a collaborative workspace.
Maker Movement: A contemporary subculture characterized by a focus on hands-on creation, innovation, and the sharing of knowledge and tools, often leveraging digital fabrication technologies.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: A legal process in the United States where a company liquidates its assets to pay off creditors, typically resulting in the cessation of business operations.
Democratization of Technology: The process of making advanced technologies and tools accessible to a wider population, reducing barriers to entry for creation and innovation.