3D printing

3D printing allows for students to engage in creation and construction in a way that was never previously available to them. Through the digital creation of their vision a physical, tangible item can be printed, and thus realized. They are able to interact with artifacts that they can create that were impossible to obtain in classrooms ever before. With a 3D printer as a supporting technology tool at their disposal, students are able to connect with their learning tasks in a  more meaningful and hands-on way. 

3D Printing... huh?

3D printing is the process of taking a digital file and creating a tangible object. The printer takes filaments (typically plastic, metal or ceramic) and melts it so that the filament can be laid down in successive layers to build an object. By the end of construction a full object can be made and tinkered with.

Real world applications

3D printers are becoming more widely used in industries and being able to build the requisite skills to properly create with a printer early on will only act as an application booster. The use of a 3D printer also provides a new realm to the world of creative problem solving and thus helps to develop a novel critical thinking skill set. 

Printers in Education

Being able to physically interact with objects in the classroom changes the way that students are able to understand them. The use of manipulatives in education has been widely accepted and 3D printers broaden the range of these available for creation in the classroom.

Ethical considerations

Though there are many clear benefits to the use of 3D printing technologies, there are also grey areas for its  capabilities. Are they only used for ethical purposes? Can weaponry or human organs be created and mass produced? Where does one draw the line on what can and cannot be printed and how does one monitor those lines?

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