Hello and welcome to ISCI 104!

The website you are at right now will be one source of information for our class, so save this link! Another source of information will be the isci104 page off of my math department website.  If you ever loose these links, you can navigate there by finding the math department webpage clicking on Our People and Faculty and finding me there (I’m the first person on the list without a picture, I should fix that soon, and then it will look like me and be even easier to find).  My isci104 website is linked off my webpage and this site is linked off of the isci104 page.  Soon you will also be able to find this site linked off of the main 3SPACE webpage.  The Assignments tab will either contain a class assignment or a link to a class assignment off of my isci104 page.  We will definitely be using the Class Blog on this site and the tabs at the top will soon fill up with content.

Please note that we will not be using Canvas at all in this class, which means that I will not see any messages that you post there. If you need to contact me please send me an email with “ISCI 104” as part of the subject line or, better yet, text or call (my phone number is on the whiteboard at the front of the classroom).

Structure and content

Our explorations of problem solving and iteration in this course will be supported by 3D printing and design in the JMU 3SPACE Classroom. This will be a highly digital course and we will be using the internet as our primary textbook. We will also make use of online collaboration and publication tools, and use both online and locally installed 3D design software and coding programs. The main objectives of this class are to use mathematical and scientific problem solving approaches to explore design thinking, project iteration, technology, online learning, writing, and the creation of relevant 3D-printed models.

Required materials

If you keep your 3D prints small in this class then you should not need to purchase any filament for the machines. However, if you choose to print larger items, or a large number of items, or to print with dissolvable support material, then you may be required to contribute a roll of filament to the classroom (about $50).