The Industry 4.0 (I4.0) aims to develop a framework where the new technologies interoperate with each other and with employees, creating a smart and efficient environment. Although there are many public and private initiatives focused on boosting the deployment of I4.0 in all sectors worldwide, the adoption is slower than expected. One of the main…

Taiwan's vocational wood-furniture schools still focus only on the traditional manual training strategy, and so students' knowledge of the furniture-manufacturing process is fragmented. Moreover, they possess limited manual skills without learning the workflows and strategies of furniture production, which is inadequate for satisfying the direct…

Furniture carpentry uses spatial structure and geometry, e.g. mortise-tenon joints, which require cognitive judgments of hidden views and spatial understanding. For the furniture carpentry novice, the idea of spatial geometry in the mortise-tenon joint is difficult to understand because furniture carpentry drawings are usually two-dimensional…

This study investigated appropriate pedagogical techniques for workplace e-learning programs in the South African wood products (furniture) manufacturing sector. The study found that learners responded favourably to constructivist teaching approaches, such as asynchronous discussions, open-ended task-based activities, and assignments incorporating…

Mention the Shakers and many people think immediately of the fine pieces of furniture made by this group in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Shaker's philosophy, religious beliefs, and daily lifestyle greatly influenced the design and construction of their furniture and other crafts. While studying and building Shaker-style pieces, students…

John Burroughs was a poet-naturalist who spent most of his life during the late 1800s and early 1900s living in a rustic cabin that he built almost entirely from native materials. Burroughs suggested that becoming a good observer of nature was a function of the whole person and the power of concentrated attention, and not of the eyes alone. (LP)

In this article, the author presents "Fresh Wood", a book that features award-winning student furniture projects. Woodworking teachers use the new book to get students inspired and motivated to excel with their own woodworking projects. The book features the impressive work of more than 40 high school and college students who submitted…