STEP 1 – RESEARCH SCHOOLS USING 3D PRINTING.
The focal point of my future vision is the impact of 3D printing on kids, thus in step one the research is focused on collecting information about how institutions and companies are eager to include 3D printing technology in schools.
3D Printers Coming to Every School in the UK – UK is one of the countries that are ambitious to include 3D printing programs in the schools. According to this article 3D printing has a huge potential in schools because it can influence kid’s motivation, their learning, their careers, their creativity, and even entrepreneurialism. It highlights very important aspects:
- Kids find 3d printing very exciting,
- Kids are eager to learn about new technologies
- 3D printing is a learning tool to promote innovation http://3dprint.com/12436/3d-printing-education/
Printeer – a 3D printer for kids and schools – Companies such as PRINTEER are focused of produce 3D printers for kids, and they also developed an easy interface to design in tablets. PRINTEER’s products are specifically focused on children’s development and creativity. They are actually partnering with local schools in California to bring PRINTEER to after-school programs and in-classroom demos. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2001363001/printeer-a-3d-printer-for-kids-and-schools
MakerBot Academy: Why 3D Printing Belongs In The Classroom – MakerBot believes it is important for children to learn this pioneering technology at an early age, and is calling on the power of crowdfunding to make its dream a reality. They are trying to persuade individuals and companies to donate money to public schools through the crowdfunding to help teachers raise money to afford a MakerBot Academy 3D printing bundle for their school. http://www.ibtimes.com/makerbot-academy-why-3d-printing-belongs-classroom-1467134
MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers for Teachers, Only $98 – MakerBot announced a partnership with Donorschoose, a donation based crowdfunding platform, in which they too, offered to fund teacher’s 3D printers down to the $98 level in California. http://3dprint.com/526/makerbot-replicator-3d-printers-for-teachers-only-98-thanks-autodesk/
Chicago Magnet School to Launch $40,000 3D Printing Lab – Walt Disney Magnet School in Chicago is ready to launch a “Makers Lab” of $40000 in equipment for kids. Their vision is to engage kids in projects that that are going to make the world a better place and improve the lives of people. http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/02/21/chicago-magnet-school-launch-40000-3d-printing-lab/
STEP 2 – INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF 3D PRINTING ON CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY
I personally could perceive the positive impact of 3D printing on children when I visited the Makes Faire in Flushing. It is obvious that 3D printing will become soon in one of the tools to create and innovate for kids. In step 2, the research is focused on collecting information about how this technology is impacting children’s development.
Why I Love My 3D Printer – MakerBot is one of the companies that focused also its attention to kids at the moment to create their products. In this video we can see a kid who shares his enthusiasm about 3D printing and how 3D printing can push the limits of kids’ creativity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyZxzkd-Jsk
Children making robots for 3D printing – This video collects parents and children insights about 3D printing. In most of the cases they value creativity as the most important part of 3D printing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsTDEel9TBk
3D printer for creative children – A kid explains the process of creation of his inventions, and also the printing process. The video highlights that children can become in inventors of toys and architectural models. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsdDCjyMBzg
Think3D Presents 3D Printing Art Exhibit at India’s Oakridge International School – Think3D set up a program for the exhibit featuring student artwork that was transferred to the 3D printer. The focus is the event was to let the kids express their imagination, creativity, and the way they envision the world. http://3dprint.com/32004/think3d-3d-printing-exhibit/
STEP 3 – IF POSSIBLE MAKE AN ART WORKSHOP WITH CHILDREN USING 3D PRINTING.
The main goal of this project is to make a 3D printing workshop with kids. Although this workshop has not become in a reality yet, my plan is to make a workshop with the children of the “Escuela Aprendiendo de mi Ecuador” (School of Learning about my Ecuador). It is a program of the Ecuadorian Consulate that promotes education for Ecuadorian children or Ecuadorian’s descendant children in NY. This educational program pays attention to cultural, historical and civic aspects that children have to learn about Ecuador in order to maintain children’s connection with our roots. The program is carried out every Saturday in the mornings.
The idea of creating this workshop is to invite children to get involve with 3D printing technology, but at the same time learn about their country. Two of the professors in that program were excited about the idea of making an art workshop with 3D printing.
The basic idea of the workshop was structured as described below:
1) Get permission to use the scanner of Baruch to reproduce the national symbols of Ecuador. Those are: the coat of arms and the national flag.
2) Obtain authorization to use the Baruch printers.
3) Print the national symbols of Ecuador in small scale.
4) To buy brushes and painting that can be used on plastic.
5) Set a date for the workshop with the art professor of the Ecuadorian School. That class has 12 students.
6) Help the students painting the national symbols. At this point the students can learn the meaning of the colors of the national flag and the meaning of the elements of the national coat as well.
7) Plan another workshop focused more on learning about 3D printing and how they can use it.
STEP 4 – DOCUMENT THE KID’S WORKSHOP
To keep the track of how 3D printing impact in children’s creativity, the workshop is expected to be documented. Although the workshop has not been done yet, I want to share a video that documents the results achieved by a group of students that use 3D printing to reconstruct dinosaurs. This is part of a program of the American Museum of Natural History. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KBxG1_WO8k
Additionally, I would like to share a short video of one of the classes of the Ecuadorian House. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=814709348572157&set=vb.641057025937391&type=2&theater
STEP 5 – MAKE A REVIEW INCLUDING PHOTOS, VIDEOS, AND WRITINGS TO SHOW THE IMPACT OF 3D PRINTING IN CHILDREN EDUCATION.
The final step consists on collecting information and obtains insights from the kids. I would like to know how 3D printing impacts their ideas and creativity. What do they like more about 3D printing? Who do they help using this technology? In other words, I would like to know what do they think about 3D printing and how can we apply the use of 3D printing in kids’ education.