Randal Dickinson Applies Diverse Teaching Experience to Digital Fabrication

Tara Ferkel

After teaching at Fayetteville High School for six years, Randal Dickinson joined the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design in February 2017 as the digital fabrication specialist.

Randal Dickinson joined the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design as the digital fabrication specialist in February 2017. Prior to joining the school, he was a career and technical education instructor at Fayetteville High School from 2011 to 2017. Dickinson also taught in Korea. He received a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and a Master of Education in career and technology education, both from the University of Arkansas.

Dickinson joined the Fay Jones School in the hopes of doing more of what he loved: designing and woodworking. While teaching at Fayetteville High School, Dickinson's workload left little opportunity to explore new skills. Here, he said, he focuses his energy on mastering techniques in technology design.

Throughout the semester, Dickinson helps nearly every student in the school with design, fabrication and woodworking equipment. The fabrication lab in Vol Walker Hall houses 3D printers, laser cutters, vacuum form machines and a CNC router. While students independently use some of the equipment, most require a consultation where Dickinson helps refine the work.

Primarily, Dickinson's goal is to educate students on best practices when using the software and equipment, as well as troubleshooting any design issues. The end product is often produced by a member of the fabrication lab team. While the team assists students all semester, they see the most students from mid-terms to final reviews.

In addition to the opportunity for development, Dickinson said the Fay Jones School offers him support, a team and resources — all of which were missing in previous roles. Additionally, the variety of work keeps him learning.

"Every semester, we do the same thing differently," Dickinson said. "There are always special projects that come down the pike that are interesting. There are always challenges that a building full of design students brings."

And sometimes, those challenges include elements outside of his control that make students' visions unachievable. Dickinson said he hates telling students they need to change their design.

"I try not to do it. But we are bound by the laws of physics and material properties," Dickinson said. "Some things work at full scale, but if we have to scale it down, there are issues. It's tough to tell someone we can't do something exactly how they want it. Then it's a challenge to find an acceptable alternative method that will still get their point across."

To offer that advice, Dickinson said he strives to stay up to date with technological advances, though this task grows in difficulty each year.

"I don't think people realize the challenge of keeping up with technology. As I learn and master skills, they're already becoming obsolete," Dickinson said. "I have to keep my finger on the pulse of the direction that the technology is moving. There are always new tools that people are using for fabrication and design."

Instructing at Fayetteville High School and in Korea gave Dickinson diverse experiences, helping him bring a teaching approach to his role as digital fabrication specialist.

Dickinson said in Korea, he maintained an impromptu, "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" approach to his lessons. As he returned to the United States and went into formal education, he learned to implement academic, written and outlined plans. Both styles gave Dickinson skills he says he uses when helping students with their changing designs.

"I have to have a bag of tricks ready to help out. I have to be able to critically assess what they want to do and come up with a solution," Dickinson said. "Sometimes I research on my own if it's an out-of-the-ordinary problem, and I come up with a game plan to get the best solution to whatever riddle they're bringing in."

Read the full Q&A with Randal Dickinson.