3D Printing in Education

3D Printing in Education

1. What can be done with 3D printers in the classroom?

   • Higher level cognitive skills developed
     • Analyze what to build
     • Design product to match
     • Evaluate results
     • Turn abstract ideas into real objects
   • Builds communication and collaboration skills
   • Projects with 3D printing are educational and motivational for students
   • STEM - allows prototypes of designs and also models for student exploration

2. What are the trends in educational technology?

   • Makerspaces are big!
     • Design thinking, tinkering and exploring, designing and creating
   • In 2012 the British Department for Education funded a project to allow 21 secondaries to trial the use of the printers in STEM and design and technology classes
   • According to 2014 Horizon Report for Higher Education, 3D printing will be at the top of the heap in 2 years
     • Stated differently, (3D printing) "merging technologies that are key trends predicted to have a major impact on learning over the next 2-3 years"

3. Examples of 3D printers in classrooms?

   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9raogfvBdA
   • http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-12-22/news/ct-glen-grove-3d-printers-tl-n-20131221_1_3-d-printer-students-and-teachers-curriculum
   • http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/03/importance-of-3d-printing-in-education.html

4. Types of 3D printers available

   • http://3d-printers.toptenreviews.com/
     • http://cubify.com/Products/CubeXTechSpecs
     • http://airwolf3d.com/store/products/large-3d-printer-model-aw3d-hd/

5. Resources

   • MacArthur framework for Connected Learning
   • 2014 Horizon Report