Gallery: Skills That Pay the Bills: Top 10 Maker Schools
01techshop-main-by-joseph-schell
Sure, sure, you're going to learn CSS for real this year. And those three months of banjo lessons are bringing out your inner Earl Scruggs. You've got big plans, and the only thing standing between you and them is your lack of cold, hard skills. How about you change that — starting this summer? With a whole new ecosystem of schools, proto-universities, and DIY collectives springing up to teach maker skills to the masses, now couldn't be a better time to bone up on an old interest or acquire a new one. Sign up for a class at one of these 10 outposts of learning and you may be moving up that quit-your-day-job date. *TechShop members welding. Photo: Joseph Schnell*
02techshop-by-joseph-schell
1. [TechShop](http://techshop.ws/index.html/) --------------------------------------------- __Locations:__ Menlo Park, California; San Francisco; San Jose; Detroit; Raleigh, North Carolina; and coming to Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Portland __What you'll learn:__ CNC technology, laser cutting, electronics, microprogrammers, 3-D scanning, design software, welding, wood shop, fabrication, machining, textiles __Costs:__ Monthly memberships from $99; workshops and classes open to nonmembers run $25-90 __Potential danger:__ Sensory overload __Selling points:__ Enormo space, unmatched [array of tools]( http://www.techshop.ws/tools_and_equipment.html), hugely helpful staff __Class we'd take:__ [Plasma cutter fundamentals]( http://www.techshop.ws/take_classes.html?storeId=1&categoryId=27) ($65 for two hours) *TechShop isn't just for building robots. You can also learn how to sew, embroider, quilt, and do other fiber arts. Photo: Joseph Schnell*
03codecademy
2. [Codecademy](http://www.codecademy.com/) ------------------------------------------- __Location:__ Online __What you'll learn:__ JavaScript, the web's dominant programming language; coming soon: Python and Ruby on Rails __Costs:__ Free __Potential dangers:__ Falling down the rabbit hole. Each tutorial takes about [five hours to complete](http://www.jacehallshow.com/blog/code-year-learn-to-code-in-2012-with-free-interactive-lessons-from-code-academy/), and a new one drops each week this year. __Selling point:__ Win points and trophies for completing lessons __Class we'd take:__ [JavaScript](http://www.codecademy.com/#!/exercises/0)*Codecademy's web interface. Image: Courtesy of Codecademy*
043rdward
3. 3rd Ward ----------- __Location:__ Brooklyn __What you'll learn:__ Art, digital design, photography, crafts, fashion, food, jewelry making, screen printing, bicycle mechanics, filmmaking, web design, welding, woodworking __Costs:__ Less than $100 for a one-day workshop, to more than $500 for an eight-week course __Potential danger:__ It's a stylish, hipster-friendly work space you'll never want to leave. __Selling point:__ It's a stylish, hipster-friendly work space you'll never want to leave. __Class we'd take:__ [Personal Genomics Using PCR](http://www.3rdward.com/3rdwardclasses/personal-genomics-using-pcr.html) ($65 for three hours) *Circuit Bending class at 3rd Ward. Photo: Courtesy of 3rd Ward*
Screenshot: Roberto Baldwin/WIRED05skillshare
4. [Skillshare](http://www.skillshare.com/) ------------------------------------------- __Location:__ Online, with physical classes across the United States __What you'll learn:__ Almost anything, with a larger selection in big metros __Costs:__ Teachers set their own prices; we saw a range from $40 to $200-plus. __Potential danger:__ Quality control--Skillshare is a listing service, so courses aren't vetted. __Selling points:__ [Lofty goals, a wide selection of classes]( http://www.skillshare.com/about/what-is-skillshare ) __Class we'd take:__ [Designing & Publishing eBooks for iPad](http://www.skillshare.com/Designing-Publishing-eBooks-for-iPad/1849830402/221149536) ($375 over four Saturdays) *A Beginner's Guide to Clothing Quick-Fixes at Skillshare. Photo: Courtesy of Skillshare*
Victoria F. Gaitán06hacdc-victoria-f-gaitan-4068
5. [HacDC](http://www.hacdc.org/) --------------------------------- __Location:__ Washington, D.C. __What you'll learn:__ Microcontrollers, electronics, crafts, software, amateur radio __Costs:__ Events are free, but a $50 monthly membership gets around-the-clock access to the space. __Potential dangers:__ Fending for yourself: Most events are geared toward makers with a project already in mind, or in hand. __Selling point:__ An [automatic "doorman"](http://twitter.com/#!/hacdcdoorman) announces via Twitter when the space is occupied. __Class we'd take:__ We'd crash a [Sunday Crafternoon]( http://www.meetup.com/hac-dc/events/54961872/) (free, from 3 pm—?) *A class in progress in the HacDC meeting room. Photo: Victoria F. Gaitán*
07pumpingstationone
6. [Pumping Station One](http://pumpingstationone.org/) ------------------------------------------------------- __Location:__ Chicago __What you'll learn:__ Electronics, programming, crafts, circuit hacking, soldering; and the occasional one-off: tool sharpening, horror-movie makeup __Costs:__ $70 a month for full-time access to the space; minimal for à la carte events and classes __Potential danger:__ Electrocution __Selling point:__ Wide-eyed communitarianism __Class we'd take:__ The one where you [learn to solder by making a blinking thing]( http://pumpingstationone.org/2012/03/2dkits-workshop-learn-to-solder-and-build-blinkies/) ($5 plus kit cost for 2.5 hours) *TOOL Master workshop at Pumping Station One. Photo: [Anne Petersen](http://www.flickr.com/photos/opacity/sets/72157624089489776/)*
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7. [The Steel Yard](http://www.thesteelyard.org) ------------------------------------------------ __Location:__ Providence, Rhode Island __What you'll learn:__ Ceramics, glass, jewelry making, blacksmithing, welding, foundry __Costs:__ From $90 for a one-day workshop, to more than $400 for a 10-session course __Potential danger:__ Two words: molten metal __Selling points:__ Good bones: The multi-building Steel Yard sits on the site of the machine-age Providence Steel and Iron Complex. Plus, there's an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven. __Class We'd Take:__ [Freak bikes](http://www.thesteelyard.org/takeacourse/courses/M-BFB-SP12), 10 three-hour sessions, $430 *Welding sculpture at The Steel Yard. Photo: Courtesy The Steel Yard*
09noisebridge-f
8. [Noisebridge](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Noisebridge) -------------------------------------------------------------- __Location:__ San Francisco __What you'll learn:__ Everything from electronics, programming, and web and game development to mycology, home brewing, and German __Costs:__ Events are free; heavy users of the space are expected to [join or donate](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Donate_or_Pay_Dues) __Potential danger:__ Intimidation — there's a high baseline of know-how among participants here. __Selling point:__ A homegrown [space program]( https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Spacebridge) __Class we'd take:__ [Hack Politics]( https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Hack_Politics) (Free, first and third Sundays) *Rookies soldering in the Arduino for Total Newbies workshop at Noisebridge. Photo: Mitch Altman*
10nycresistor
9. [NYC Resistor](http://www.nycresistor.com/) ---------------------------------------------- __Location:__ Brooklyn __What you'll learn:__ Programming, software, electronics, crafts, fabrication __Costs:__ $50-75 for a class __Potential danger:__ Laser-cutting mishap __Selling point:__ The opportunity to make [a working toy piano out of Jell-O]( http://www.nycresistor.com/2012/02/29/the-resistor-jeltone/) __Class we'd take:__ Learn to Rapid Prototype Using the 35 Watt Epilog Laser ($75 for three hours) *Arduino 101 at NYC Resistor. Photo: [John Abella](http://www.flickr.com/photos/jabella/)*
11fabacademy
10. [Fab Academy](http://fabacademy.org/) ----------------------------------------- __Location:__ Various locations worldwide (see the [list]( http://fab.cba.mit.edu/about/labs/ )) __What you'll learn:__ The ins and outs of digital fabrication: 3-D modeling, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, circuit board milling, CNC routing, 3-D scanning and printing, molding and casting, machine design and fabrication __Costs:__ $5,500 for a five-month course __Potential danger:__ Becoming so avant-garde your friends will no longer be able to relate to you __Selling point:__ Serious pedigree: The academy began as an outreach program from MIT's [Center For Bits and Atoms]( http://cba.mit.edu/) __Class we'd take:__ No dilettantes allowed here — Fab Acad students sign on for the [whole program]( http://fabacademy.org/2012-schedule/)*Students at Fab Lab Barcelona. Photo: [Fab Academy](http://fabacademy.org)*
