TiE2016

“3D printing and design can electrify various literacies and creative capacities of children in accordance with the spirit of the networked, interconnected, information-based world” - Kostakis, Niaros, & Giotitsas, 2015, p. 126

3D printers are disruptive technologies that are transforming everything from manufacturing to medicine. A cardiothoracic surgeon in Louisville was able to use a 3D printed model of a child’s heart to develop a surgical plan and perform a challenging heart surgery. NASA is exploring the possibility of printing food for astronauts. The Smithsonian is digitizing its entire collection and providing free access to its 3D models of artifacts. Local Motors created the world’s first drivable 3D-printed car that only takes 44 hours to print and assemble. With free 3D modelling software and the price of 3D printers becoming more affordable, teachers and students alike will be able to design and print anything they can imagine.

During the 2015-2016 school year, a group of 20 inservice, preservice, and pre-practicum teachers were invited to participate in a 3D printing community of practice at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (http://3dprinting4learning.wordpress.com). These teachers will collaboratively design and implement cross-disciplinary 3D printing lesson plans that engage students in design-based learning.

In this session, we will share what we learn from the 3D printing community of practice, including how teachers learn to develop 3D printing lesson plans and the pitfalls and success factors that shape the use of 3D printers in the classroom. We will also share the lesson plans, learning activities, and 3D models that the teachers in our community of practice develop.

During the second half of the workshop, attendees will collaboratively design 3D printing lesson plans and resources or brainstorm ideas for incorporating 3D printers into their classrooms.

Conference Theme: Connected Teachers - We are currently working on developing a collaborative, global website that will feature all of the resources from our community of practice. We will invite attendees to add their resources to the website. Additionally, we will encourage attendees to connect virtually with our community of practice participants.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to 1) identify at least 3 different ways to incorporate 3D printing into a classroom; 2) develop a lesson plan, learning activity, or action plan for using 3D printers as a transformational learning tool; 3) connect with the community of practice participants in order to continue conversations about 3D printing in a K-12 classroom.