Public Education Forward will host the 8th annual PEF Chattanooga Fab Institute from July 8-10 in partnership with Hamilton County Schools and with support from Volkswagen. 

For the fourth consecutive year, the institute has sold out, welcoming more than 200 educators from 10 states to Chattanooga for a three-day professional learning experience focused on digital fabrication, hands-on learning and the power of innovative teaching. The event is designed to expose educators to the possibilities of digital fabrication in VW eLabs while reigniting a passion for learning through immersive experiences. 

Each morning will begin at the Construction Career Center before participants travel to one of six Hamilton County Schools sites: Red Bank High School, STEM School Chattanooga, the Global Center for Digital Innovation, Battle Academy, Brown Academy and Orchard Knob Elementary.

Across these sites, educators will engage in hands-on workshops in the VW eLabs using tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, robotics systems and other advanced technologies that help students design, build, test and create. 

This year's design challenge, "Rewind 2026: Create your spin on a retro toy from your childhood," invites participants to blend nostalgia, creativity and modern fabrication tools as they design and produce original toy concepts. The institute opens July 8 with a keynote from teacher and magician Tom Pesce, continues July 9 with a teacher panel and a VW eLab student alumni panel and concludes July 10 with a toy showcase where participants will share their final creations. 

"Ten years ago, ‘digital fabrication’ and ‘VW eLabs’ were isolated outliers. Today, they are part of a movement.” said Dr. Dan Challener, president of Public Education Forward. "Today, 60 schools in Hamilton County provide more than 25,000 students with the opportunity to design, create and re-iterate answers to questions and solutions to real-world problems.  This week, at PEF’s 8th Chattanooga Fab Institute, 200 teachers from Hamilton County, Bradley County and ten other states are learning together, sharing best practices and seeing the extraordinary learning that is commonplace in our public schools." 

Officials said, "PEF’s Chattanooga Fab Institute highlights the strength of the long-standing partnership between Public Education Forward, Hamilton County Schools and Volkswagen. Since the first VW eLabs opened in Hamilton County Schools in 2017, the network has become a model for how schools can use advanced technology to deepen student learning, build essential skills and connect classroom experiences to future opportunities."

"We're excited to welcome educators from across the country to Hamilton County Schools to showcase the innovative learning happening in our VW eLabs.” said Dr. Justin Robertson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. "These spaces reflect our shared commitment to expanding opportunities for students and strengthening education through collaboration and partnership.” 

Officials said, "The institute is intentionally designed as a hands-on learning experience for educators. Rather than simply hearing about digital fabrication, participants work side by side with Hamilton County teachers and students to experience the creativity, problem solving, collaboration and persistence that VW eLabs make possible for students every day."

"Programs like the Chattanooga Fab Institute help educators create the kind of hands-on learning experiences that inspire students to explore, create and solve problems," said Benjamin Williams, assistant manager of technical training at Volkswagen Chattanooga. "At Volkswagen, we see every day how valuable those skills are. By introducing students to advanced technology and real-world problem solving early, we are helping build confidence, curiosity and the future talent pipeline for our region."  

"Chattanooga Fab Institute gives educators the chance to experience the same kind of learning we want for students - learning that is active, creative, challenging and deeply human," said Michael Stone, vice president of innovative learning at Public Education Forward. "The magic of the VW eLabs is not just the technology. It is what happens when great teachers use that technology to help students imagine, design, build, fail, revise and create something that did not exist before." 

For more information about the PEF Chattanooga Fab Institute, visit www.pefchattanooga.org/chattanoogafab-institute.