Course Title: Real Life Problem Solving with 3D Printing
I think there a few ideas that will help take this class to the next level. It could be starting a class where the theme is more of a direct path when printing, rather than being able to print anything. I like that I can come and print what I like, but sometimes I felt like I was printing just to satisfy requirements, and had no use for the things that I printed. I believe it we had biweekly prompts to solve it would be better, and help use refine our skills because chances are we would have to design things to solve those prompts. So, one week we would be assigned to print whatever we wanted, the next week we would have a prompt that we would have to solve by printing an object.
Learning Objectives:
- Advanced design experience in creating 3D objects
- Tinkercad, Afinia software, Adobe
- Hardware Troubleshooting
- Learning the ways to fix the machines
- Creative thinking
- Analytical thinking
- Observing how your object is printed incorrectly, and figuring out how to improve it
- Problem solving
- Experimental mindset
http://3dprintingsystems.com/education/
http://3dprintingsystems.com/why-have-3d-printers-in-the-classroom/
Sample Project:
For instance, a prompt could be “Your friend slips in the shower and rips the curtain down breaking one of the loops. Help your friend by printing something to keep the curtain up”. Each student would be responsible for designing, manipulating existing designs, and ultimately printing there solution to the problem.
Within in the class periods themselves, we should have team exercises with classmates to build the best thing they can by putting their minds together based on a theme. For example a theme could be “tools you find a garage.” Students can come up with original and unique tools that are relevant to them, or functional tools like a hammer or wrench that they can use. They must demonstrate the application and how they will/have used it once printed.
Students can have blog assignments or large projects, where they are prompted with some of the world’s largest problems, and how they can use 3D printing technology to help solve that. It would include a report on details of the problem itself, and the steps they would take to solving it, and how their solution improves the situation in anyway. An example could be instead of having a shortage of toys donated to Toys for Tots, they could print toys for the children saving them time and money. Or wounded warriors coming back from overseas can have custom printed limbs for more affordable prices.
Future department ideas:
Prototyping, product development, innovation, distribution and application across industries and demographics, and product enhancement
One of the most applicable academic departments that would benefit from 3D Printing is the Center for Entrepreneurship. The reason for this is this entity represents students who have a wide variety of skills used in creative problem solving. By giving CFE students the ability to print prototypes for their ideas, trouble iterate, etc. they can make great products to potentially become great companies. An example is at Drexel University, a student run company called Spor, used 3D printers to manufacturer working prototypes for their successful Kickstarter campaign. All in all 3D printers can create fast affordable prototypes that can set ideas into motion and attract investors.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spor/spor-solar-battery-chargers-usb-cables-and-accesso (video)
In the CfE’s venture creation course, students can have the opportunity to build products, mockups, landscapes, accessories, for their brand they are creating within their team. Or they can create companies that revolve around 3d Printing, specifically fashion accessories that are personalized to your face. Take a selfie, you can triangulate those distances, and print glasses that fit perfectly to your face.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227916
Generally entrepreneurs tend to be “techy” so students can observe and manipulate the software and hardware 3 Space has now to further develop more innovative, efficient, economic machines or software for future users; on a grand scale for household consumers, or manufacturing, etc.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237969
http://news.yahoo.com/10-amazing-3d-printing-startups-093702274.html
Students can develop strategies for mass distribution; bringing it to the household, retail, etc. An example of how easily accessible 3D printing is becoming is in the article below, thousands of UPS stores now have 3D Printers.
http://www.theupsstore.com/small-business-solutions/Pages/3D-printing.aspx
Another very relevant skill/major involved in entrepreneurship and the CfE is finance – students can observe, invest, and develop investing strategies for 3D printing company stocks – a trend somewhat comparable to the retail investment market for cannabis companies stocks.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2014/07/01/3d-printer-stocks-on-fire/
Recent Comments