3D printing in the classroom
Thanks to Makerbot and generous donors through DonorsChoose, my classroom received a Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printer in December. After some testing of the preloaded STL files, we started tinkering the following semester for the multimedia class.
Unfortunately, through the excitement of tinkering and problem solving, I didn’t capture many images or videos of what the students created. I did get a few, so I’ll share below what we did this semester with the 3D printer.
PI DAY CELEBRATION
Using their knowledge of the uses of Pi, students were to create a game to celebrate Pi Day on March 14. They were required to incorporate interactive animation with Flash, various Pi calculations or applications, determine probability within the game, create a gameboard with their graphics knowledge, and 3D print game pieces they designed in 3Dtin. Students partnered with Jason Douma from the University of Sioux Falls to learn about game theory and probability.
Dr. Who game with 3D printed TARDIS and Daleks
Trophies created for winners of this group’s game
Pi Cake for circle foods game
MARKETING MANIA
Students used Design Thinking to re-think every day objects. Once their group chose a concept to move forward with, they used Tinkercad to create their new designs. Using their knowledge of volume/surface area, they designed efficient packaging with nets that had limited wasted space. They then created a marketing campaign to promote their new product. The top groups presented their ideas at marketing agency Lawrence & Schiller (one group also had the opportunity to present at 1 Million Cups). They also partnered with Paul Rankin from L&S to focus their ideas in the creation process and Erin Weinzettel from L&S to learn about creating engaging sales pitches.
CordHub — A product to organize messy computer cords.
This group was selected to present at L&S and 1MC and ended up absorbing another group, Mr. Untangled (a product that keeps ear bud cords from tangling) and created a new product CordHub mini out of this merge.
SporkChops — A portable set of 7-in-1 utensils that can be kept in a purse or at your desk.
The photo below shows the products with the printing raft still attached.
iPeach — A phone case that can double as a toy or phone stand when you attach Legos.
BAKE/3D PRINT SALE
Through all of our testing and printing, students used quite a bit of PLA filament. We did not use all that was provided through the DonorsChoose opportunity, but we used enough that we need to order more for the next year. Since donors provided the filament for this year’s students, they decided to assist in providing filament for next year’s students. The top ideas were to have a bake/3D print sale where students donated baked goods and created small items to sell. Some students really went above and beyond using Tinkercad to create intricate designs, and others created simple items that others would want to buy. It was fun to see the variety! And we made enough to be able to purchase 3 large spools of filament for next year’s students.
Rollable Truck and other vehicles
This particular student spent a lot of time creating the vehicles below. The truck is made with axels so it is rollable. The VW van is made with a removable door and roof. (I haven’t tested printing the VW van yet).
These can be downloaded from Thingiverse for you to print yourself: Pickup Truck and VW Van
Companion Cube
From the videogame Portal, this student designed and printed a Companion Cube. He even figured out a more efficient way to print it (rotate it to a 45-degree angle and print with supports!)
You can print this student’s design from Thingiverse–others already have, actually: Companion Cube
Mustang
As we often encourage shared knowledge and collaboration in our classrooms, this student created a mustang with the help of his friend, who made the truck and VW van above.
You can print this student’s design by downloading it from Thingiverse: Mustang
MOVING FORWARD
For this upcoming school year, I’m trying to find unique ways to incorporate 3D printing in the projects for both my graphics and multimedia classes — as well as maybe my art class. There isn’t a lot on the internet right now with how students are using 3D printing in the classroom, so many teachers are starting from nothing as I did.
I’m toying with the idea of week-long challenges or Maker Mondays for students to work on small 3D printing challenges throughout the year. If you’ve got a challenge for them or ideas on how to use the printer in authentic ways, please contact me!
Hello there,I feel as a person that came from a non-union falmiy that I provide another perspective on the matter. Of course we have to change ourselves for the place we live in. That’s what I have found about being in Japan. More often than not people are cut for a percentage for the shareholders and such. I have been a resident here for quite a while and in that time I have seen a lot of people come and go. A lot of people came with bright hopes, just to be wrongfully treated by the company they came to work at. I support BEGUNTO for the following reasons as well as many others…They always put our best interests at heart and that is shown by the rejections that would have seen a base-up for teachers on 35/40 and older contracts but not newer ones, as well as not accepting non financial concessions that may have been beneficial to only a select few.There have been examples of wrongful dismissals or just flat out non renewals on contracts which BEGUNTO helped to fight back. Without BEGUNTO those people would have had nowhere to turn.Our Berlitz Union gives us access to basic rights to labor laws that we are just expected not to know because we are foreigners and could be taken advantage that way. Remember, that BEGUNTO is a non-profit organization, where people put in a lot of free time to help members as well as to help and answer questions for those that seek or need advice. Some of these members put in absolutely crazy hours. They do it voluntarily because they believe in it, not because they are paid.I would like to say that I like working here but I didn’t like to see the managers and head teachers get all of the money when bonus time came. It isn’t fair and it should not be the way the company continues to do business especially while being in a very strong financial situation. Remember, only three years before, our salary was frozen when they didn’t hit targets.As a final thought, I have seen people comparing Berlitz contracts to full time contracts. I would take a full time contract if they offered it to instructors but they don’t anymore. There are more benefits and you are more recognized by the law. Also, I think it’s a bit unfair to take one lesson as 40 mins of work. What I mean is if a person came in for 6 lessons and teaches 6 x 40mins per class, plus the 5 mins in between is another 25mins and the 30 mins of prep time before, that works out to about 5 hours but Berlitz calls it 4. I’m not saying it’s wrong but it isn’t right either. I would say your average teacher puts in a good hour a day of extra running around any way you look at it.Anyways, these are just some of my thoughts and I think the Union is doing the right thing.
陶傑worked for BBC. 陶傑lived in England. 陶傑reads the FT. 陶傑isæ‰å. 陶傑係長é è‰. So what? What do you care?If you don’t like 陶傑, it is fine. But don’t put him down to make you look good.