3D Printing Articles

Thingiverse:

The website called Thingiverse, is a website that contains many resources for 3D printing. I really enjoyed the website when I was looking for something to print out of the 3D printer. As a teacher, I find it a good resource as well, because it gives you many ideas for using a 3D printer in your classroom. It helps give you lesson plans and ideas to print out. The education section on the website was very useful. It gave a step-by-step lesson plan on how to incorporate 3D printing into your classroom. It gave all of the objectives and the grade level of the lesson plan. Although it did have a lot of positives, I didn't feel like the education section had a ton of options to choose from. 3D printing is still an growing technology, so that might be the reason for lack of education resources. All together; however, the website was a very useful resource for incorporating 3D printing and technology into your classroom. 

Educators - Smithsonian: 

This article talked about how 3D printing can really spark students interest in history. The Smithsonian hoped that 3D printers would help students of all ages explore some of their most valuable objects at a level of control that has never been possible until now. With the help of 3D printers, students are able to become creators themselves using the same tols that professionals use. The articled explained the hope that the Smithsonian had for students - "Whether students are printing invaluable museum objects or inventions of their own design, we hope the change to bring objects to life will give students the opportunity to create imaginative and innovative work." The article also talked about how 3D printing can allow students to get out of the textbook by creating objects that they are learning about. Some students believe that reading and taking notes don't help, but it is easier to understand something you have made and created. The article went on to talk about how students can get a better understand of something, such as cancer, then they could by just hearing about it. 

3D printers in Schools: Uses in the Curriculm

This article was a study on schools and 3D printers. Twenty-one schools were provided with funding to purchase 3D printers. The study aimed to find out if 3D printers supported motivation in certain subject areas. The study explored 3D printing in science and mathematics and the potential of 3D printing. Many schools reported high levels of pupil motivation when engaged in these projects. "All the pupils who have been involved with the 3D printer so far have been inspired by its possibilities. The opportunity to realize a concept or idea quickly into a 3D product is an incredibly powerful teaching tool." Although many of the schools found that the 3D printers were a success in getting students motivated and engaged, the schools also admitted that early work with the printers was a trial and error process. At first, many of the schools were limited to demonstrations and the printing of small files, such as 3D shapes. Overall, the study found that the schools confirm that 3D printer have a huge impact on students and a significant potential as a teaching resource. 3D printers have a positive impact on student engagement and motivation, as long as the schools can master how to use the printers in a effective and meaningful way.