When many think of 3D printing math and sciences typically come to mind, but what if we integrated it with education classes.
3D printing has many benefits to classroom and teacher experiences.
How do you integrate into school?
1) Teacher aids can be very expensive and for many teachers they have to pay out of pocket if they want to secure a specific resources for the lesson. If allowed to use 3D printers teachers would be able to print/create any aid they might need in a variety of different sizes and colors based on the needs of students. Instead of looking at pictures of different animals the students could hold it, or when learning about different cultures replicas of different artifacts could be printed and used by the students. When learning a concept that is difficult to visualize students could to able to hold the object and look at it from all perspectives.
2) As things break or disappear around the classroom they could be replaced quickly and less expensively then having to order and ship it from a supplier. Going through school it always seemed that the window cranks were missing and they were expensive to replace or in science on piece of the lab kit would go missing so it was unable to used or a hook for the volleyball net in gym snapped so we had to do another activity. All of these things would be fixed within a couple hours by using 3D printers.
3) Allows for more personalization education because classrooms could be made more accessible and conducive to students with special need or disabilities. 3D printing allows for students to receive educational aids they need such as personalized spelling games, objects with the word printed on them, or puzzles that allow them to take an object apart and see how its made. It allows for the individual needs of students to be met due to the ability to customize objects.
4) Inspires creativity and math/engineering because students are able to create anything they like but they have to build and design an object that is able to print.
3D printing is continually integrated in to school systems. Allowing future teachers access to these printers will give them more experience with programs and capabilities of the printers before using them in their classrooms.
Possible future classes and projects for department
1) Planning, Designing and Printing Teacher Aids: Educational Tools and Games
Observe Classrooms with 3D printer
Organize a field trip/open house for local elementary, middle and high school classes and teachers to visit 3D printing lab.
Create Tutorial for middle school and high school students about how to operate programs
When creating lesson plans to include models of aids to use
2) Creating, Designing and Printing Student Aids: Classroom Accessibility for Students with Disabilities
Groups are given student with disability needs and create an aid to help them in the classroom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w2w6MQZfxo
3) Classroom Use of 3D Printing: Classroom Maintenance
Learn how to create school supplies such as storage bins
Learn how to use it for fixing a broken part to the projector, board, desk, etc.
4) Interactive Class Decorations and Wall Hangings
5) Undergraduate research on how effect 3D printing is at encouraging students in STEM education
As 3D printing becomes more integrated into our school systems students studying education need to be exposed to the technology as well. There are many practical application to 3D printer for elementary, middle and high school students so it would be helpful to allow then to be exposed to the technology before using it in their classrooms.
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