As 3D printers are becoming less and less expensive, more are showing up in high schools across the country.  This is an icredible opportunity for high school students, but who is ready to teach them?  Teachers who have experience with these 3D printers have a competitive edge over those who do not since they will not only  be able to teach students how to use them, but also use them for their own purposes.

The College of Education at James Madison University currently offers secondary education preparation for Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, Foreign Language, History and Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics.  In addition to teachers preparing for STEM education, 3D printers can be useful to all subject areas.  A course offering skills in 3D printing would be increadibly useful to all secondary education students, as every subject can use them to enhance their future classsroom.

Biology

The world of biology involves life of all sizes.  The most difficult for students to understand are the microscopic lifeforms invisible to the human eye.  Yes they can use microscopes, but if you remember your first time using a microscope, you’ll remember it wasn’t exactly an HD view of cell walls.  Many 3D models already exist online and could still be produced by teachers to meet their students specific learning needs.  Students also can be taught about the medical breakthroughs of 3D printing, such as prosthetics and printing live cells.

Chemistry

Students have a similar problem with Chemistry.  Molecules and atoms are invisible to the naked eye.  With 3D printing, student can hold a model of an atom or molecule in their hands.  Teachers can print models of atoms with their electon orbitals.  They can also print full molecules or have students design and print their own molecules.

Earth Science

Earth science teaches students a lot about things they themselves cannot see.  3D printing can be used to simulate fossils.  It can print planets to scale and at different densities.  Teachers and students can 3D print things like tetonic plates, models of the atmosphere, volcanoes; the possibilities are endless.

English

3D printers could be very helpful in teaching vocabulary.  Better than just looking at a picture of an object, students can have a model printed specifically for them to pass around.  Many times students are reading material that is too old for them to comprehend.  Objects from different time periods can be printed to aid in the instruction of the time surrounding the reading.

Foreign Language

Similar to English, 3D printing can be a great aid to learning words in a foreign language.  3D printing can also be used to print out cultural items and artifacts from the country or countries being studied.  Students can be given a better cultural experience without any traveling or expensive shipping.

History and Social Sciences

Using 3-D printing to make accurate models of artifacts can be used in teaching students the important history of our time. Things like the first airplane and the skull of nomads. The possibilities are endless on what items can be manufactured in such a short amount of time. This will help students better understand the time periods from which the artifacts were made.

Mathematics

3-D printing will improve understand of shapes in geometry. Classes will now be able to use the printers to print out physical shapes to help students learn exact measurements and formulas. Making high school students work long projects on detailed shapes and designs will help teachers teach and students learn. Improved test scores will make this generation masters of design and creativity.

Physics

Building models and other engineering projects can be made to help save time and make more accurate scale models. This can help with architectural type classes and physics as well. Giving students the opportunity to create projects cheaply and efficiently will lead to greater understanding and more elaborate designs. Using this in education can lead to students at a younger age be more inclined to physics type jobs. The use of the printers will make students enjoy learning about making designs.

JMU already offers a course, EDUC 540: Educational Technology, as a part of its Masters of Art in Teaching.  3D printing would be an excellent addion to this course, if not a course of its own, to prepare future teachers for the future classroom.