How to Start 3D-Printing with Students

/

Have you ever seen a really cool project that you wanted to do with your students, but you didn’t feel confident enough in your own abilities to be able to introduce it to them? Odds are that project had something to do with technology.

Technology is ever changing and let’s face it, we can’t be experts with every single thing. Should that stop us from exposing our students to it?

A large part of our job as a teacher is introducing students to a multitude of career opportunities because how are they supposed to know if they’re interested, if they never have any experience? So let’s go back to the first question - should our inexperience with a piece of technology stop us from teaching our students about it?

image0 (10).jpeg

NO.

It’s ok to not have all of the answers. It’s ok to not be confident with using it. It’s about showing up for our students and learning with them!

And that’s exactly what I did 3 years ago when I did my first project on 3D-printing.

I had never used a 3D-printer in my life, but you know what? I unboxed it, set it up, and got it running (with the help of our fabulous IT person who approved the software download) all by myself. And when I opened the 3D-printers there were no directions. Yes, you read that correctly, no directions. I watched YouTube videos, completed tutorials on Tinkercad, and learned along with my students.

I would constantly tell my 4th and 5th graders, “Ok guys, you’re the first ones to do this. I’ve never used these before, but we’re going to learn together!”

And you know what? They loved it!

I modified my slidedeck for students throughout the unit, adding in tips and tricks that students discovered along the way. We watched the printers run together for the first time and we all felt a huge sense of accomplishment TOGETHER. Because that’s what learning is all about - trial and error. Finding what works and what doesn’t. And most importantly not giving up.

So if you’ve never used a 3D-printer before (or any other technology), learn with your students. Watch YouTube videos, use the Tinkercad tutorials, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes!

IMG_7418-5.gif

Do you want to learn more about what exactly Tinkercad is? Then check out my blog post - Tinkercad.

Do you want to see how I’ve been using 3D-printing to help my local hospitals during Covid-19? Then read my post - 3D-Printing for the Community.

Are your students beginners at using Tinkercad and you don’t know where to start? Then you won’t want to miss my blog post - Tinkercad Projects for Beginners.

Do you not have a 3D-printer, but you’re still interested in using Tinkercad? Then read why you can do just that here - Using Tinkercad Without a 3D-Printer.