3D Printing Technology in the Classroom - Increasing Meta-cognition in Students
3D Printing
As we delve into the world of the 21st century, schools must diversify and prepare students for the world outside the school doors. This is the first in a series of posts that will look at how technology can be used in schools, and the classroom, to improve student learning.
3D printing is a technology that allows digital files to be transformed into a physical 3 dimensional product.
Learning by making has long been a staple of the classroom and 3D printing brings a different aspect of this in the classroom. Introducing 3D Printing into classrooms changes both the way students learn and the way educators teach.
One of the good things about this printing technology is that it changes the dynamic of consumer culture by turning users from passive consumers to active creators.
3D Printing in the Primary School
I have been experimenting with 3D printing in the primary school classroom. Students have begun to produce 3D models for a purpose, and then print them out using our 3D printer. Students have produced a range of cogs and gears for their Lego Robots and have also designed other various creatures through Creative Arts. Printing with 3D technology allows them to develop using digital technologies and then be able to physically create what they have developed.
What type of 3D Printer is best?
When deciding on the type of 3D Printer that would best suit a Primary School, we took some time looking around the market and testing different models. There are a lot of different models out there but the one we settled on was the UP Mini 2 model. This model is compact and can be paused and moved to different locations if needed. Another necessity that this printer addresses is that it is completely enclosed, a legal requirement for a primary school.
Testing this printer we have printed a variety of things. The kids like the T-Rex skull the best.
I printed this Zooidberg Buddha to bring some calm and peace to the office.
As 3D printing technology advances, greater uses for the technology in the classroom will be realised. The need to develop students who are creative thinkers who regularly exercise their higher order thinking skills and cognitive function is essential if we are to continue to evolve as a species. 3D printing is one technology that will facilitate creativeness in the leaders and citizens of tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Wow very awesome printers @scooter77. Its must the very expensive prices.
Btw, tou should to fix your writting text of header. I am using esteem app, and I see there is too many misstyped header.
Good luck @scother
Printing out a T-rex skull and then giving it to them to touch and feel is just awesome, light years ahead of looking at a picture of it in a book. They would be learning at a much faster rate and be inspired so much what a great thing you are doing.
Thanks. Yes its really hands on. You can design something on a computer but it's not until you print it out and hold the final product that you really feel you have produced something. Thanks for commenting.
I would need to get one that's completely enclosed as well because I have small children and soon small kittens that like sticking paws in places they shouldn't XD
Not to mention dust. DUST.
So are there kid-friendly programs that come with it or just whatever 3d app you happen to have available?
There is a program that lets you communicate and print that comes with the printer.
I would recommend TinkerCAD for a good free online design program for kids. Easy to use and then you just export and import into the print program.
Hey scooter, these are obviously becoming fairly well adopted now. Perhaps it'll be time to play with one soon. Wonder how much choice there is for design software and drivers for Windows and Linux.
They are really cheap compared to where they were a few years ago. These models are around the $500 - $600 mark now and filament is around $40 for 1kg. The average print job use 50 - 80g of plastic too.
Very interesting post! Upvoted and following you :)
This is pretty cool Scooter. I remember when my primary school got its first computer!
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