FAQ
Answers to the questions we are most commonly asked
General Questions
Q: Are the classes really free?
Yes, all classes are free to middle and highschool-age youth.
Q: Does Tech Workshop hold standard open hours?
No, Tech Workshop does not hold standard open hours. Please check the Calendar for a schedule of classes, events, and robotics meetings.
Q: My child is interested in attending a class, but isn’t in 6th grade yet. Can he/she still sign-up?
Sorry, only youth from 6th to 12th grade can sign-up for and attend classes.
Q: I am no longer in high school, but would like to attend a class. Can I still sign-up?
Sorry, only youth from 6th to 12th grade can sign-up for and attend classes.
Classes
Q: The class I wanted to sign-up for is full. Is there a wait list?
Yes. At the bottom of the Class Details page, a list of all upcoming classes is displayed. When a class no longer has any open seats, the “Sign-Up” button changes to “Waitlist”. Use this to add your student(s) to the waitlist.
Note, all users on the waitlist for that class and date will be notified when a seat becomes available. The first one to sign-up will get the seat.
Q: I don’t see a class that I’m interested in. Can I request a new class?
Sure, send us message with your thoughts. New classes must fall within one of our primary themes (3D Printing, Web Design, Robotics, Game Development, CAD, and Digital Media) and we must have an instructor capable of teaching that subject.
Q: I would like to sign-up for a class, but haven’t completed all of the prerequisite classes. Can I still sign-up?
If the student has relevant experience, they are not required to take that prerequisite class. As an example, if you have been using a 3D Printer for the past 2 years, you wouldn’t need to take the “Introduction to 3D Printing” class, which is a prerequisite for several intermediate classes.
Q: Do I need to bring anything with me to class? I have a laptop that I can bring.
Feel free to bring water or snacks with you, but there is no need to bring a laptop. We already have laptops for every student that are pre-loaded with the necessary software and files for the class.
Q: I’m a mentor of a local FTC/FRC robotics team and we’d like to sign-up the entire team for a class. Is this possible?
Yes, please message us with the Contact Form. We can schedule a private class for your team. You can also request custom topics. We will tailor the class curriculum to meet your needs.
Q: As a parent, can I stay in the workshop while one of my children takes a class?
Yes, we have a waiting area with a couch, chairs, and internet. Feel free to stay and have a cup of coffee. We do ask that you take any phone calls outside to limit disruptions.
Drop-In Workshops
Q: What are the Drop-In Workshops that I see on the calendar?
The Drop-In Workshops are essentially open hours for students to work on their own tech-related personal projects, with help from our resident instructors. During these times, students are free to use our laptops, software, and 3D printers.
Please see the Calendar for a schedule of Drop-In Workshops.
Q: Do I need to sign-up for Drop-In Workshops?
No, you don’t need to sign-up for a Drop-In Workshop, but you do need to be registered so that we have your emergency contact information. Please check the Calendar the day before as the drop-in workshops are frequently changed.
Q: Can I use the 3D printers?
Yes, students can use our 3D Printers during Drop-In Workshops, with help from our instructors. We have an assortment of basic filament types and colors. Feel free to bring your own filament if you need something specific.
Donations, Volunteering, and Corporate Sponsorships
Q: Is Tech Workshop an official 501c3 organization?
Tech Workshop is registered as a domestic nonprofit organization with the State of Michigan and has started the application process for recognition by the IRS of exempt status under section 501(c)(3).
Q: How can I support Tech Workshop?
Please see the Support Us page. We are always looking for new donors, volunteers, and corporate sponsorships.
Q: I’d like to volunteer, but I’m not capable of teaching a technology class. Is there anything I can do to help?
Yes, there a many non-instructional roles we are looking to fill. We have many operational tasks to perform, such as marketing, bookkeeping, ordering, and event planning.
Q: I have an old 3D Printer, robotics component, laptop, etc. Can I donate this to Tech Workshop?
Thanks for thinking of us, but we are not accepting in-kind gifts at this point. Our workshop is fairly small, so we don’t have room to store extra stuff.
Robotics Team
Q: My child is interested in joining Tech Workshop’s FTC Robotics Team. How do I sign him/her up?
Tech Workshop currently sponsors a single FTC robotics team, the CyberSmiths #28804. FTC teams in Michigan are limited to middle school only (grades 6-8). The main season is in the Fall, running from early September to December. We will be limiting the number of team members, so Contact Us soon to reserve a spot.
Q: Does Tech Workshop have a FRC (high school) robotics team?
Due to the relatively large expense and requirements of running an FRC Robotics team as a non-school, we don’t currently have a high school team. This may change in the future based on interest and availability of corporate sponsorships.