3D printer high school lesson plans

3D Printing Curriculum and Lesson Plans

3D Printing Curriculum

PrintLab Classroom is an online platform of 3D printing lesson plans combined with a certified teacher training course. Our approach is to take inspiration from the innovative uses of 3D printing in industry and bring these through to education. The curriculum is aligned to a range of standards across different subject areas and challenges students to design assistive technology, reusable packaging prototypes, hands-free virus solutions and more.

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A Toolkit for Educators

Our online toolkit allows you to pick and choose from 40+ projects to build your own pathway for students - saving you the time and stress of creating your own lesson plans. Each project is equipped with downloadable teaching materials such as presentations, workbooks and rubrics, as well as explainer videos and 3D design tutorials hosted on a student portal for a blended learning experience.

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Make:able Challenge

Make:able is a free assistive technology design challenge, brought to you by PrintLab and Autodesk. Join today for the chance to win 3D printers, 3D scanners and more

Redesign your Classroom

In this project, students are challenged to redesign their classroom to improve their own learning environment

Assistive Clips

In this project, students design assistive clips that attach to objects to make them more accessible

Packaging Redesign

In this project, students learn about the circular economy before rethinking and redesigning the way we create and use plastic packaging

For Libraries & Makerspaces

It’s not just schools we support - libraries and makerspaces can provide members of all ages with access to our student portal, allowing them to work through exciting, self-paced courses and projects. The impact of this is sure to increase 3D printer usage and footfall in any creative organisation.

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The PrintLab Classroom

The PrintLab Certification Course v2

A certified course for teachers that covers all aspects of 3D printing in the classroom

3D Printing Guide for Teachers

A comprehensive 60-page guide detailing everything you need to know about 3D printing in the classroom

Designing in Tinkercad for 3D Printing - Online Course

Learn how to design specifically for 3D printing in Tinkercad and test your knowledge in a quiz

The Make:able Challenge

A 3D printing and assistive technology design challenge for students, brought to you by PrintLab and Autodesk

Assistive Device Academy v2

A human-centred design project where students create a range of assistive devices for people with disabilities

Pandemic Products

Students design solutions to limit the spread of viruses such as Covid-19 on surfaces

3D Printing Basics Workshop

A workshop template that introduces students to the fundamentals of the 3D printing process and industry

Intro to Tinkercad

An introductory course that introduces students to the fundamentals of 3D modelling with Tinkercad

Slicing for 3D Printing

Learn how to optimise slicer settings to achieve the best quality prints and test your knowledge in a quiz

Tinkercad to Fusion 360 - Mini Course

Send Tinkercad models to Fusion 360 for further editing and visual presentations

Intro to Fusion 360 - Mini Course

Get started with Fusion 360 software and learn all the essential tools

3D Printing Technologies

A guided research workshop where students learn about the various 3D printing technologies

Make an Assistive Bottle Opener v2

Students will manufacture an assistive device to help users with arthritis

Emoji Tokens

Students design and make emoji tokens to use as feedback systems

Design a Self-Watering Planter v2

Students learn about photosynthesis before designing and 3D printing a self-watering planter

Design your own Spinning Top v2

A lesson where students compete to design and 3D print the spinning top that spins for the longest time

Design your own Whistle v2

A lesson where students explore sound waves by designing a functional whistle for their sports department

Make a Functional Wrench v2

Students design and 3D print wrenches to fit various sized nuts and bolts

Make an Egyptian Obelisk v2

Students will learn about hieroglyphics before designing and 3D printing a personalised Egyptian obelisk

Make your own Stationery

A mathematical lesson where students design and 3D print their own stationery

Balloon Powered Dragster v2

A lesson about forces and motion where students design their own balloon powered dragster

Project Upcycle

Students upcycle waste materials at their school by combining them with 3D printed forms to create useful products

Design an Urban Installation

A creative project in collaboration with McCloy + Muchemwa Architects, where students design an urban installation

Quick Clips

Students use a simple 2D sketch to 3D model workflow to create a range of useful clip accessories

Rethinking Disposable Plastics

Students are challenged to rethink and redesign a disposable plastic product to eliminate waste

Tactile Tangrams

Students design tactile tangram puzzles for people with visual impairments

Redesign your Classroom v2

Students design and 3D print a volumetric scale model of their classroom before redesigning it to enhance their learning

Packaging Redesign

Students learn about the circular economy before rethinking and redesigning the way we create and use plastic packaging

Surrealist Sculptures

Students learn how to design and make surrealist sculptures with 3D scanning technology

Digitising Nature

Students learn how to digitise nature with 3D scanning to create beautiful jewellery pieces

Make a Puzzle Cube v2

A mathematical lesson where students explore volumes of cubes to create their own puzzle

Make a Tactile Game v2

Students are challenged to design tactile matching games for people who are blind or have visual impairments

3D Printed Orthoses

Students learn how to design and manufacture 3D printable orthotic devices

Ergonomic Transformations

Students transform an off-the-shelf product into an ergonomic solution customised for an individual

Reverse Engineering

Students learn how to reverse engineer a series of products using 3D scan data

Mycelium Moulds

Students design and make consumer products out of mycelium, the root-like structures of mushrooms

Best 3D Printers for Schools and STEM Education 2022

More and more schools around the world are turning to more creative ways to teach students, moving away from boring lesson plans and moving towards learning through play. The world is changing and education must change with it. To prepare kids for a career as an engineer or 3D software designer, schools are looking for the best 3D printers for kids to learn.

As a result, a number of 3D printers have been developed specifically for educational institutions. So we've compiled a list of seven FDM 3D printers that we think are best suited for teaching kids - from elementary to high school and up - how 3D printing works. nine0003

Contents

What makes a good educational 3D printer?
Benefits of 3D Printers in Schools:
Best 3D Printers for Schools & Education 2022
Toybox 3D Printer - Great for Young Children to Learn 3D Printing
Makerbot Sketch Solution - Dedicated 3D Printer for Education
MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition
Flashforge Creator Pro 2
Dremel Digilab 3D40 EDU - Dremel Dedicated 3D Printer for Education
Ultimaker S3 - simply the best
Monoprice Select Mini V2 - very affordable 3D printer for classrooms
Buyer's Guide - what to look for when choosing a 3D printer for schools
Tips for 3D printing in schools and educational institutions
How 3D Printing Helps Education
Here we've rounded up some of the best ideas for 3D printing in schools that students are sure to get excited about.
Q&A

What makes a good educational 3D printer? nine0041

Of course, ease of use, especially for younger students. If they can't manage the printer, they won't get inspired or learn anything, so simplicity is the number one priority. 3D printers for elementary grades should be safer and simpler, while more advanced students, such as engineering students, will feel safer and more comfortable with more sophisticated printers.

In addition, reliability. Teachers can't teach while fixing broken printers - any educational 3D printer should be stable. nine0003

Finally, ideally a 3D printer for schools should come with lesson plans, class projects, or interactive exercises. 3D printer companies such as Makerbot, Tinkerine and Dremel 3D have focused on developing 3D printers as educational tools, offering complete lesson plans designed with the age group in mind.

Since good educational 3D printers are also suitable for children to play outside of school, we have chosen the following printers for both criteria: the best 3D printers for schools and STEM education. nine0003

Benefits of 3D printers in schools:

Makes learning interactive and active: Unlike studying a textbook or watching a lecture, 3D printing involves students interacting with machines and engaging in the printing process.
Encourages understanding of the real world: much of what is taught in schools is theoretical, rather than allowing you to see the results and effects visually. The fact that a real 3D printer creates real parts is better than abstract theories and will help to develop the student's engineering skills and spatial intelligence much better. nine0053 More interesting: Technology is cool and if students are interested, they will learn faster.

Best 3D Printers for Schools & Education 2022

Toybox 3D Printer - Great for Young Kids to Learn 3D Printing

Price: From $300
Assembly volume: 70 x 80 x 90 mm
Material Compatibility: PLA
Minimum layer height: 200 microns
Print speed: 60 mm/s

Primarily for children

Affordable price

Biodegradable, non -toxic PLA

Convenient printing with one touch from the box

Access to a free printing catalog 2000+ toys

Small seal area

Limited opportunities for practical use in training

9000 9000

TOYBOX stringing a gold kick by creating a 3D printer designed exclusively for children, encouraging independent creativity and fostering an interest in technology. The Toybox 3D printer can also serve high schoolers or adult learners who want to avoid the usually steep learning curve of 3D printing before moving on to a more serious education-focused printer. nine0003

Affordable and affordable, the Toybox 3D Printer is the entry point to the world of 3D printing, with a friendly design aimed at young pioneers. The touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity, small footprint, non-toxic, biodegradable PLA compatibility, and support for iOS/Android devices and web browsers all work to give young students the tools to easily explore 3D printing. .

When we tested the Toybox, we were very impressed with its affordability, how easy it was to start printing almost immediately, and how easy it was to switch between filaments. nine0003

The Toybox printer also comes with Creator Space, a universal application, library and customization kit. The kid-friendly app contains everything you need to print from a catalog of 2,000 customizable toys. It also provides kids with everything they need to print their own creations or complete a fun school project.

With such an emphasis on simplicity and one-touch printing, the Toybox is very limited in its applications, making it very similar to a 3D printer for classroom use in lower grades. Beyond toys, Toybox lacks the necessary features and versatility for more advanced and practical STEM learning applications. nine0003

Makerbot Sketch Solution - Dedicated Education 3D Printer

Company Based: USA
Price: $1,799 for the whole set (2 3D printers)
Print volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm

With over 7,000 Makerbot printers installed in North American schools, Makerbot is positioning itself as the leading 3D printing brand for education. Their latest educational 3D printing solution, Sketch, builds on this commitment to helping schools teach effectively. nine0003

Makerbot offers a comprehensive guide for educators, featuring over 600 free lesson plans hosted by Makerbot, as well as a certification program for students who want to stand out as STEM leaders. They offer the only comprehensive 10-hour ISTE-certified 3D printing training and have an organized cloud-based file management system that seamlessly integrates with TinkerCAD or Fusion 360 3D CAD software into their printers. nine0003

For this price, you get a lot more than just two Makerbot Sketch 3D printers. You also get 6 spools of classroom-safe PLA filament, 4 build plates, 2 plate spatula, 2 replacement nozzles, 2 teacher certification slots, 10 student certification slots, and a Makerbot Cloud with queue free prints for a year. Makerbot has focused on building a complete STEM education solution, making it as easy as possible to order everything you need to teach kids about size, shape, design and shaping. nine0003

MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition

Price: Check Amazon here
Assembly volume: 295 x 195 x 165 mm
Material Compatibility: MakerBot PLA, MakerBot Tough PLA
Minimum layer height: 100 microns
Print speed: 175 mm/s

STEM lesson plan

Easy classroom management

Easy setup and easy printing

Excellent software suite

Expensive

PLA only, which could limit potential educational use

Another strong contender among 3D printers for schools and a favorite among educators, the MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition is a solid ecosystem-based printer with features printing and security.

Set it and forget it quality pervades every aspect of the MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition. It comes fully assembled with automatic bed leveling, Wi-Fi connectivity for remote monitoring and printing, and an easy-to-navigate LCD display. nine0003

The MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition fits seamlessly into the classroom with a great suite of software including MakerBot Cloud, TinkerCAD compatibility, and the intuitive MakerBot Print app for phone, desktop, and browser. Safety is also well ensured with a built-in camera, removable build plate, hands-free printing, and compatibility with MakerBot's own classroom-safe PLA and MakerBot Tough PLA materials. nine0003

Educators will also benefit from the included MakerBot Educators Guidebook. It also has a library of classroom-ready projects and 600+ lessons, as well as an ISTE-certified MakerBot software and teacher license. The latter is an invaluable resource for learning how Replicator+ works and for deeper student learning.

Compared to the MakerBot Sketch, another great choice of the best 3D printer for students, the MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition has a larger build volume to help educators with more ambitious projects or multi-part printing. The MakerBot Sketch is probably the safer option thanks to its closed chamber design and particulate filter. It also has a few extra features that the Replicator+ doesn't have, such as touch screen controls and a heated plate. nine0003

The MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition is costly, and the strict PLA restriction won't work for those who want to expand their learning to other types of content. Machine material compatibility is limited to MakerBot coils, eliminating the possibility of using cheaper third party materials.

Flashforge Creator Pro 2

Price: Available in
Assembly volume: 200 x 148 x 150 mm
Material Compatibility: PLA, Pearl PLA, ABS, ABS Pro, PVA, HIPS
Minimum layer height: 100 microns
Print speed: 30-100 mm/s

Independent dual extruder system suitable for more complex multi-material printing

High learning opportunities thanks to material compatibility

Safety features

Won't run out of school STEM budget

Linked to FlashPrint 9 slicer0003

Flashforge Creator Pro 2 is one of the best 3D printers for schools. It is an economical, closed-type printer suitable for a wide range of materials. Teachers will find the Flashforge Creator Pro 2 an adaptable 3D printer for classroom use. This is especially true for those who teach advanced design and technology, as well as their various applications.

While most school 3D printers usually work with plain and predictable PLA, Flashforge Creator Pro 2 offers a lot more. This is mainly due to providing ideal conditions for more heat sensitive materials such as ABS, while printing confidently on PLA, PVA and HIPS. nine0003

The independent dual extruder is also a godsend for educators who want to teach more complex 3D printing techniques using two different types of filaments in one print: two-color parts, support structures for a particularly complex model with lots of ridges, or printing multiple student-designed parts at the same time .

Flashforge Creator Pro 2 also scores points for ease of use. It comes fully assembled and ready to print, eliminating the need to spend time tweaking and fine-tuning to get the best results. While Flashforge Creator Pro 2 doesn't come with tutorials and lesson plans like many other classroom-ready 3D printers, its simplicity won't cause any problems for teachers and students. nine0003

The only downside to an otherwise great offering is that Flashforge ties the printer to its FlashPrint slicer. It's a competent slicer with a lot of functionality, but for those who want more advanced features and the freedom of an open source toolkit, there are limitations. We recommend Cura, a third-party tool of choice for layout designers of all levels.

Dremel Digilab 3D40 EDU - Dremel Dedicated 3D Printer for Education

Company Based: USA
Price: $1,699
Assembly volume: 255 x 155 x 170 mm

American company Dremel moved from being just a tool manufacturer to 3D printing with the Dremel Digilabs series. The 3D40 EDU is designed to teach kids how to 3D print.

The printer comes with a lesson plan designed in accordance with American educational standards and accepted in all US states. These lessons teach problem solving and teamwork through 3D printing, helping students develop manufacturing skills that will be key in the future. What's more, the course counts towards 4 hours of PD - while you're learning 3D printing! nine0003

Price: See price
Assembly volume: 255 x 153 x 170 mm
Material Compatibility: PLA, PETG, Eco-ABS, Nylon
Layer height: 50 microns
Print speed: 150 mm/s

Minimal setup and easy-to-use features

Comes with great learning resources

Compatible with more media types than most educational printers

Safe for a dynamic and unpredictable classroom environment

Expensive for a school on a budget

The Dremel 3D45 EDU is another 3D education printer from Dremel's craftsmen. It provides a complete, easy to use and minimal 3D printing setup perfect for students.

Simplicity is the theme of this printer. Dremel has gone to great lengths to make the Dremel 3D45 as easy to use as possible. It features automatic bed leveling, multiple connectivity options including Wi-Fi and cloud networks, a sleek touch interface and comes pre-assembled. Together, these features make it much easier to set up and use the printer, so educators and students can get started right away. nine0003

The Dremel 3D45 EDU comes with all the safety measures you need: a HEPA carbon air filter, a fully enclosed chamber, a filament holder enclosed in the printer body, and even a handy built-in HD camera for remote monitoring of print progress. The EDU kit also includes additional filament spools, a glue stick and a spare mounting plate.

In addition to top-notch specifications, the Dremel 3D45 EDU comes ready to teach with plenty of lesson plans suitable for grades 3-12 and even a self-study program for teachers. nine0003

The program provides educators with all the hardware and software knowledge from design to printing to confidently use and teach the Dremel 3D45 EDU, as well as instructor certification culminating in a Dremel seal.

Wider material compatibility distinguishes the Dremel 3D45 EDU from its 3D40 EDU cousin. Instead of just playing with standard PLA, the Dremel 3D45 EDU gives teachers and students the opportunity to experiment with PETG, Eco-ABS and nylon. Under the hood, the two models share the same high-quality features, with the exception of a straight all-metal extruder that can withstand temperatures up to 280 degrees Celsius and a heated bed that the Dremel 3D45 EDU has. nine0003

Ultimaker S3 simply the best

Location: Holland
Price: $3,850
Print volume: 230 x 190 x 200 mm

Any manufacturer in the know knows that the Ultimaker S3 is one of the best FDM 3D printers out there. It features industrial-grade quality, reliability and, most importantly for 3D printing in schools, simplicity. It is also open source, which is an advantage for all curious and advanced engineering students who want to try modifying any part of it. nine0003

Although the Ultimaker 3 is more expensive - especially if there are more than 20-30 students in the class - the ease of use and print control (smart auto-leveling features, remote printing by phone) make it a fantastic option for 3D printing in schools. Simply because the printer rarely fails because it is so reliable, the Ultimaker 3 is perfect for teaching kids how to 3D print.

Monoprice Select Mini V2 is a very affordable classroom 3D printer

Country of manufacture: USA
Price: $199
Assembly volume: 120 x 120 x 120 mm

While not billed as an education 3D printer, the Select Mini V2 is a cheap 3D printer and easy enough to use that every student can have their own, for the same price as one or two more expensive printers.

It's simple enough that students can easily use it, and cheap enough that if something goes wrong, it won't be a disaster. What's more, its open layout allows students to see the printing process up close, which is not always possible with more enclosed printers. There are no lesson plans or tutorials included, but the Monoprice Select Mini V2 can definitely be used to teach 3D printing in schools. nine0003

Buyer's Guide - What to Look for When Choosing a 3D Printer for Schools

Ease of Use

Given that inexperience and keen curiosity go hand in hand in educational settings, we recommend 3D printers that take the extra steps to streamline and simplify the process.

Features such as automatic bed leveling, Wi-Fi connectivity and touch screen controls take the more technical and subtle aspects out of the equation. nine0003

These features should make the printer accessible not only to younger students, but also to less experienced teachers who are introducing 3D printing into their classroom for the first time.

Assembly

For the easiest and fastest set up of the print station, we recommend that you select 3D printers shipped assembled. To help, most printers designed for schools and educational institutions come fully assembled as standard.

Materials and types of filaments

We recommend PLA as a starting point. This material is biodegradable, non-toxic and melts at a relatively low temperature compared to other types of filaments. PLA improves the overall safety of learning about 3D printers while offering a fairly wide range of application and printing options.

For more advanced users, or for tutorials covering specific topics requiring a more versatile filament type, we recommend looking at a printer that can print with ABS and possibly other types such as PVA and HIPS. nine0003

Safety

3D printer safety is an important consideration when working in a dynamic, sometimes hectic classroom environment. We recommend paying particular attention to features such as closed chambers, air filtration systems, built-in cameras for hands-free surveillance, and easy-to-remove plates, all of which help keep users safe.

Slicing software

Slicing is an important step in the 3D printing process. We recommend slicing programs that don't overwhelm users with advanced options and have a clean, intuitive user interface.

Manufacturer-designed slicers offer full integration and optimization of settings with specific printers and are therefore a good option. Otherwise, third-party slicing programs like the always-reliable Cura can be a great alternative.

Tips for 3D printing in schools and colleges

Go to class prepared. There are a wealth of resources available, from lesson plans to projects covering a wide range of topics. Use them to steer your learning in the right direction.

Use a simple, beginner-friendly design program. It will relieve you of many of the complex aspects of 3D printing, facilitating quality learning and skill acquisition. TinkerCAD is a great starting point, although other options exist such as 3D Builder, SketchUp Free, and Meshmixer. nine0003

Let students experience 3D printing. This does not mean touching hot ends or tearing the printer apart. Instead, involve them in the process, whether it's choosing parts to print, adjusting slicer settings, matching colors, or assembling printed parts. The sense of belonging to the project is priceless.

Preset the extrusion temperature and calibrate the bed. This saves time and captures the fleeting attention of students, and reduces the chance of bad prints, errors and troubleshooting on the go. nine0003

How 3D printing helps in education

Here are some examples of how 3D printing can revitalize and transform learning.

Anatomy — Print body parts or even the entire skeleton piece by piece for teaching anatomy. Involve students in the process.

Chemistry and Physics - 3D printed models of molecules and atoms are a powerful way to turn an obscure concept into something students can understand on a physical level.

Design, Engineering, Technology - Have students design and print functional parts for structures such as a bridge or a catapult.

History - print models of historical figures, artifacts, ancient monuments, and why not make a diorama depicting the turning points of history to bring novelty to the lesson.

Geography — Make a jigsaw puzzle of a specific country, continent, or entire globe to help students learn geography and have fun. nine0003

Math - Print out models to help young learners hone their counting skills in a tactile way. Why not print geometric shapes or even Sudoku?
Ideas and projects for 3D printing in schools and education

Here we have selected some of the best ideas for 3D printing in schools that are sure to interest students.

Puzzle Cube - Sharpen your problem-solving skills with the classic cube puzzle.
T-Rex Scale Skeleton - Recreate a perfect copy of the most ferocious dinosaur.
3D Pyramids of Giza - Bring Ancient Egypt to life.
Molecules - Flexible and modular, great for chemistry class.
US States Mystery Help the students memorize the location and name of the 50 states.
Spur Gear - math, engineering and design rolled into one.

Q&A

What is the best 3D printer for primary school? nine0003

Used and designed for children, it adds a good amount of fun to the process without losing its educational value. The low price helps too, as does access to an extensive library of toy prints.

What is the best 3D printer for high schools?

For middle school classes, we recommend the MakerBot Replicator+ Educators Edition. Plenty of learning materials, ease of use, and excellent software should play well with older and more inquisitive minds while keeping it light and fun. nine0003

What is the best 3D printer for high schools?

In our opinion, the Dremel 3D45 EDU and Flashforge Creator Pro 2 are two great options for secondary schools, if only because of the material compatibility. Compatibility with ABS and other less common filament types allows for more experimentation and variety in educational applications covering broad topics such as history, chemistry, engineering, design, and physics.

Modern technologies in the educational process are already a reality. nine0001

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All of us once studied at school. Many had lessons in labor, computer science and even drafting. Today, modern technologies are coming to schools - children learn to design objects in various 3D modeling programs, and their projects can be brought to life using 3D printing.

Municipal budgetary educational institution of the city of Novosibirsk "Secondary school No. 112" begins its history from 1958 years since the opening of a boarding school for the children of the builders of the Novosibirsk hydroelectric power station. Today, at school No. 112, under the guidance of talented teachers, children get acquainted with promising professions of the future, learn the basics of 3D modeling and additive technologies, learn how to operate CNC machines, create and program robots.

Igor Alexandrovich Polionov, teacher of technology MBOU Secondary School No. 112

“Our school has half a century of history. I have been a technology teacher for eighteen years. In 2009I, with the support of the director of the school, Vadim Nikolaevich Platonov, organized Design and Research Laboratory for Students in the Educational Field of Technology (PILOT) . By 2013, the school building was reconstructed and supplemented with a large educational building, while equipping new educational workshops, we updated the material base with modern equipment.

Today we have a full line of LEGO Education (more than 70 basic and resource sets), UNIMAT CNC modular machine tools, ASCON licenses for the KOMPAS-3D V16 program, training licenses for the DelCAM package, computer classes. nine0003

In 2013, young specialists came to us - teachers of robotics, engineering graphics, Art-modeling and the basics of CNC. For these classes, we decided to purchase a 3D printer, and in the end, the choice fell on PICASO 3D Builder. The model was proposed by the Innovatika company at one of the exhibitions in the Novosibirsk Expocentre when our workshops were equipped with innovative equipment.

Since 2014 at school I have been coordinating work with juniors and teachers of special courses.

In 2015-2016, our students won a number of victories at the JuniorSkills competition in competencies: mechatronics, engineering graphics, prototyping, CNC turning and milling, electronics and mobile robotics. Today we have 9 engineering and 2 energy classes, about 300 future engineers and power engineers.

We use 3D printers to introduce students to additive manufacturing in basic technology lessons. In addition, our students attend special prototyping courses as part of the engineering classes program (4 hours per week after the main lessons). They are attended by children who have shown a special interest in the subject. The lessons are based on modeling in KOMPAS-3D. I develop all lesson plans and objects for design myself. According to the results of the first quarter, each student modeled and printed out a family keychain. In the second or third quarter we make chess and work on original projects. At the end of the academic year, we design and print original photo frame pencil holders and make test presentations of our projects. nine0003

There are also Blender courses for grades 5-8, taught by an art modeling teacher. Here, children design figurines of famous and their own heroes, create animation, and build entire cities. We print the best models in two copies - one for the author, the second for the school exhibition. By September 1, 2016, we plan to open a permanently updated exposition. The PILOT project has great prospects for development. I believe that by 2020 all schools in Russia should have at least two 3D printers, which, in turn, will make it possible to popularize the use of additive technologies, as well as increase the motivation of children to choose engineering professions.” nine0003

2000 kilometers from Novosibirsk, in the small town of Karpinsk, there is another school where teachers also actively use 3D printing in the educational process. This is the Municipal Educational Institution Secondary School No. 5, the Base Platform of the Institute for the Development of Education of the Sverdlovsk Region, Karpinsk City District.

Nikita Bukreev, teacher, secondary school №5

“Our project is called “3D Modeling and Prototyping” and is a school association of interests. 9 schoolchildren take part in it-10 classes. The main objective of the course is to build interdisciplinary connections. We are trying to help schoolchildren find practical application of the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom. In the course of working on their projects, students get acquainted with the principles of preparing three-dimensional models for printing, learn the principles of additive printing, learn to evaluate their work in terms of reproducibility on a 3D printer.

In the 2013-2014 academic year, students of the city schools studied engineering drawing in the KOMPAS-3D environment and reproduced the results of their work using 3D printing. Schoolchildren also study methods of rapid prototyping in the SkethUp and Autodesk 123D Catch environments. In the new academic year, we plan to implement a major physics project using 3D technologies, during which students will model the inventions of scientists that could not be made at one time due to the imperfection of technology, and make them using 3D printing. Such as the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. nine0003

We received the PICASO 3D Designer printer as a base platform for the Institute for the Development of Education in the Sverdlovsk Region in 2014. A year earlier, the school purchased a UP!Mini printer at its own expense, specifically for an educational project on 3D modeling. Since our project was originally aimed at reproducing works using 3D printing technology, there can be no other way to implement projects in principle. There were no particular difficulties in mastering printing on Designer, we already had experience in operating this 3D printer.