3D Printing for Education
Empower Today’s Dreamers to Become Tomorrow’s Designers
What if you could make virtually any topic you taught hands-on, fun and visually immersive?
Welcome to the incredible world of 3D printing, where imaginary objects, abstract ideas and creative concepts are conjured into the physical world.
Gone are the days of passive learning, with rows of students sitting quietly lectured by a teacher. Modern classrooms are vibrant, collaborative spaces, full of digital technology and creative curriculums designed to captivate student’s curiosities. As digital learning becomes the norm and the importance of exciting students in STEM subjects continues to grow, interest in 3D printers for education is at an all-time high.
Tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, architects and problem solvers need the tools to imagine, experiment and invent our futures. 3D printers and STEM kits are fast becoming a necessity for all modern classrooms.
Printing 3D? Think D3.
Data#3 is excited to announce it can now supply 3D printers and STEM kits to Queensland schools under the Queensland Department of Education SOA-71658 contract. With a catalogue of state-of-the-art devices, software applications plus adoption and support services, Data#3 will have your teachers trained and students amazed by 3D printing.
UP Mini 2 ES
Small, mighty and portable, the UP Mini 2 ES is a favourite in compact desktop 3D printers. Equipped with HEPA filtration system, touch screen control and integrated WiFi, the UP Mini 2 is affordable and easy to use, students can even print directly from iPads.
EinScan
Place objects on the 360 degree turntable and capture 3D scans ready for digital manipulation, in just 60 seconds. The EinScan SP and EinScan SE are fast, high precision desktop scanners. While the EinScan Pro is a portable handheld device, with the flexibility to capture large and complex shapes.
UP Box
Create super-sized, super-fast prints with the all-star UpBox. 30% faster than the UP Mini and sporting a much larger print area, the UP Box is also loaded with professional-grade features like automatic calibration, filament sensors and an impressive HD 100 micron print resolution.
HP Sprout
The incredibly unique HP Sprout is a revolutionary creative studio and collaboration device. High performance PC, dual touch screens, digital projector, webcam and 3D scanner in one. Sprout truly blends the physical and digital worlds, in an immersive student experience.
STEM Kits
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects are increasingly important to the career prospects of students and Australia’s progress as a digital economy. With an estimated 1.2 million job vacancies in STEM fields and only 16% of university students graduating from STEM courses1, there is both need and opportunity to excite students in STEM study.
Many STEM kits leverage 3D printed components, exposing students to real-world applications of their prints and developing problem solving skills, creativity and critical thinking. Data#3’s selection of STEM kits will enable you to introduce robotics, mechanics, programming, electronics, math and design lessons into your curriculum.
All support resources are provided, including student and teacher workbooks, design template files and all building parts.
1. Berg, B. (January 2016). Why is STEM Education Important. [Online] Available at: https://coderacademy.edu.au/blog/people/why-is-STEM-education-important
Student Benefits of 3D Printing
3D printers have two key benefits for student learning.
Active student participation
The first is to improve student engagement through interactive, hands-on and fun lesson plans. In this capacity, 3D printed objects that relate to the subject matter of the lesson, increase student attention, active participation and recall of the material. It has been proven that providing students with a visual model aids the learning process, increasing a students’ ability to understand and remember complex or abstract concepts2.
Although, 3D printing isn’t just for technical or difficult subjects, visualising new concepts and testing theories bridges the gap between art, imagination and the physical world, enhancing students creativity, problem solving and critical thinking.
Turning subjects into careers
The second application of 3D printers in the classroom is to teach students the actual skills involved in 3D printing. The number of job ads requiring 3D print skills increased 1,834% in the last 4 years3. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is already pushing the boundaries of the medical, construction, manufacturing, automotive and aerospace industries. Two thirds of the top 100 manufacturing firms already use 3D printing technology4 and 10% of all businesses state that buying a 3D printer is a major priority within the next 2 years5.
2. United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (December 2015) The Future of Learning. [Online] Available at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002431/243126e.pdf
3. Stratasys. (2015) What is 3D Printing. [Online] Available at:http://www.visualcapitalist.com/what-is-3d-printing/
4. Pricewaterhouse Cooper. (August 2016) The road ahead for 3-D printing. [Online] Available at: http://usblogs.pwc.com/emerging-technology/the-road-ahead-for-3d-printing/
5. Forbes. (May 2017) The State Of 3D Printing, 2017. [Online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2017/05/23/the-state-of-3d-printing-2017/#47a45f1357eb
Teacher Training and Support Services
A study of 500 primary and secondary school educators, revealed that 40% of teachers avoid existing technology in their classroom due to insufficient training6. While 30% of the same group acknowledged that when implemented correctly, technology could improve student’s results6.
Data#3’s 3D printing solution for Queensland schools offers high quality training and adoption services in partnership with the Department of Education approved supplier, Using Technology Better, including:
- Onsite installation, training using devices, feeding your filament (3D ink) and if require machine maintenance
- Professional development for teachers on working 3D printing into their curriculum and lesson plans
- Support with using 3D printer software and the database of plans and curriculum ad-ons available
- Guidance for instructing students
6. Instructure Inc, (January 7, 2016). Why Aren’t We Training Teachers to Use Classroom Technology? [Online] Available at: https://www.innova-solutions.co.uk/news/why-arent-we-training-teachers-to-use-classroom-technology/
3D Print Lesson Inspiration
3D printing gets students looking at problems and lesson material through a completely different perspective.
Learning about ancient societies? Design and print a model of a mummy, a pyramid or the Colosseum.
Learning about landforms? Design and print a peninsula or a mountain range.
Learning about natural disasters? Design and print tools to protect you from problems arising from earth quakes, floods or fires.
Learning about chemistry? Design and print the molecular structure of a compound.
Learning about extinct animals? Design and print a model of Australia’s indigenous megafauna.
Anatomy, biology, chemistry, geometry, space, culture and society, the possibilities are endless.
Image sources, in order: MyMiniFactory.com, 3DPrint.com and Sensilab.monash.edu
Why Data#3?
As a Department of Education Preferred Supplier and with over 30 years’ experience in the education sector, Data#3 will get your teachers trained and students amazed by 3D printing and STEM kits.
With a portfolio of IT solutions for education and countless customer success stories, Data#3 understands your institution’s business needs and focus on improving student learning outcomes.
Reach out below to learn more about 3D printing from a Data#3 Education Specialist or request a demonstration and price list today.
