A totally free index of Internet resources for the K-12 Community.
3D printing can add a new dimension to the classroom (pun intended).
While the technology is not yet “mature”, you are now seeing 3D printers in office supply stores & Fry’s Electronics. It’s time to start looking at how this new medium can enhance your students engagement and understanding.
While most 3D printers today "print" with plastic, there is a lot of experimentation and new products that can print on other media. If you can push it out of a nozzle - think frosting, chocolate, cookie dough, & jelly - you can print with it. Check out these incredible and editable results. learn more
Clark Barnett, an elementary school teacher, has an active blog on all things 3D printing. Topics include 3D Printing In Space and In the Classroom, Student Perspectives, 3D Printed Microscopes Lesson Plan, Stop Motion Animation with 3D Printing, and 3D Printing in Third Grade. learn more
Kathy Schrock has put together a comprehensive list of resources, lesson plans and additional videos related to 3D printing in the classroom. learn more
This blog post from Makers Empire goes into detail on 7 good reasons for bringing 3D printing into the classroom: Creating inventors Bringing art back Engaging reluctant learners Creating responsible digital citizens Making everything hands-on Building school camaraderie Solving real-world problems learn more
Here's the actual site referred to in the "Now What?" article. Built using Weebly.com, a web site hosting service specializing in online shopping, this site allows adults (faculty, maintenance workers, parents, etc.) to submit real world problems and students to solve those problems using 3D design and printing. Check out the "Create A Problem Bank"… learn more
Dr. Martin Leary hosts this short, non-technical explanation of how 3D printing works and what you can do with it. While the printers come in many shapes, sizes, and prices(!), the basic concepts are the same. learn more
This blog post talks about how one teacher manages one 3D printer and "lots" of things to print - 15 new items out of one class. Other posts on this blog talk about the benefits of bringing a 3D printer into your classroom and showcases student projects. learn more
When it comes to 3D printing and the materials that can currently be printed in a home or classroom environment, the range available might surprise you. Everything from plastic to nylon to ceramics to "wood". PLA plastic filament is a "best" choice for a classroom environment. learn more
This book gives a reasonable, first overview of current research (as of 2013) on 3D printing. It aims to inspire curiosity and understanding in young scholars and new generations of scientists to motivate them to start building up their own 3D printing experiences and to explore the huge potential this technology provides. Topics include... A… learn more
A teacher at a recent conference turned us on to this idea: Rather constantly changing color filament spools, they print everything in white PLA. They then let the students color their prints using permanent markers. It save a lot of time and allows the students to be more creative, adding multiple colors per print. It's… learn more
Not sure where to start? Check with your local or university. There are people in your area with 3D printers who would be glad to demonstrate them, assist you in choosing the right one for your needs, and help with things just aren't working. learn more
Bart Van der Scheuren, of the Belgian 3D printing company Materialise, does a good job of explaining how the three main 3D printing technologies work. : Fused-deposition modeling : uses an nozzle to lay down the part one-layer-at-a-time using plastic or other media : Laser sintering : uses a laser (or in some printers a… learn more
3D printing has been heralded as the future of manufacturing. This post takes a quick look at explaining 3D printing, then takes an in depth look at who came up with the original ideas. It all started with UV light and vat of liquid photopolymer. learn more