Teaching 3D Modeling and Printing

Four years ago we purchased two Polyprinter 3D printers for our Makerspace. I knew nothing about 3D printing and had a lot to learn. That first year I experimented with files obtained from Thingiverse and some of my own simple designs that I created on Tinkercad. My students were also eager to learn how to use the printers and design their own creations, so I developed this lesson plan to introduce students to not only 3D design, but also the fundamentals of how 3D printers work and how 3D printing is impacting all areas of society.

6 Reasons for Integrating 3D Printing Into Your Classroom

According to Seton Hall University there are 6 reasons for integrating 3D Printing into your classroom:

Tangible models/physical examples/learning aids

Technology of our time/relevant/impacts many fields

Easy way to make courses more interdisciplinary

Ignite or spark creativity or imagination

Increases spatial intelligence/takes the abstract to the tangible

It's exciting to tinker and explore

Framework:

As with all of my units, I use the learning framework outlined below. This plan, which is based on the engage2learn framework, gives structure and a flow so the students know where they are at all times during the unit.

Pre-Assessment

Team/Launch

Hook/Challenge Brief
Form Groups/Team Role
Establish Norms/Develop Conflict Resolution

Plan

Analyze Project Requirements
Analyze Rubrics and set goals based on pre-assessment

Research/work

Plan and research
Identify knows/need to knows

Create/Crit

Final project is created
Adjustments and refinements made based on peer feedback

Share project with authentic audience
Students self-assess their work via Maker's Statement.

Pre-Assessment

The pre-assessment in this unit includes a lot of vocabulary, file types, and procedural questions. It is important for the students to evaluate their pre-assessment and develop a list of "knows" and "need to knows" so that they are able to set goals and plan how they will go about their learning.

Research/Work

Much of my work is done by the time we start the unit. I have front-loaded all of the slides, curated resources, and set up a timeline so the students have everything they need to work autonomously through the unit. Instead of doing whole group lessons on how to use Tinkercad, I have provided tutorials and other resources. I do spend time addressing the whole group on the day I give a "tour" of the 3d printers and discuss the different types of filament. By the time I do these lessons, the students have had time to review the resources so they can come prepared with questions.

Create/Crit

If a student already knows how to use Tinkercad, then they can move through projects more quickly, while others may need more time to learn. I facilitate the learning by holding "workshops" and answering questions. The first part of project is the "Cube of Relevance" where students create a cube with icons and logos that represent things that are relevant to them. During this phase, students become familiar with Tinkercad, image file types, vector graphics, and other technical aspects of 3D design. Students spend time planning their second project by using the Faucet/Funnel Thinking docs. This is the part of the project where design thinking and empathy play a part in the planning process. They are designing something that has a use or purpose. By asking "who, what, where, and why" the students come up with an idea that will help others. Throughout the unit students are encouraged to work autonomously by receiving peer feedback, utilizing the provided resources, and seeking out their own additional resources.

The final phase of the unit involves a self-reflection/evaluation using the rubrics and the Maker's Statement. This final stage is important so be sure to allow enough time for them to reflect and share their process. According to John Spencer "Innovation skyrockets when people show their work". He also adds that when students show their work, they are helping to build a community. In the process, sharing their mistakes and "building trust through vulnerability".

The Slides

Below you will find the slides that I use to deliver resources and information to my students. I also post in Google Classroom the assessments and materials that I want turned in to me. Students make a copy of the slides so they have everything they need at their fingertips for autonomous learning!

Feel free to make a copy for yourself and modify as needed.

3D Modeling and Printing Slides

3D Modeling and Printing Pro-Tips

Student Created Work