I have done a little work before in Sketch-Up, but Thinkercad was new to me. At first I had a hard time trying to figure out how to make my object, as I knew what I wanted to make (chicken roost holder) but couldn't seem to figure out how to design it. I realized that I kind of had to think a little backwards, then I was able to design it as I wanted. I wasn't able to get it printed up, but I'm still going to try. I really want 4 for my coop!
I think 3D printing offers students a new type of hands-on learning, that literally brings a new dimension to their learning experience. It can also help bridge the gap between what a student imagines and the reality of a tangible object, and it lets students learn how to endure adversity and persist in problem solving. It helps connect abstract concept to real life, aids in the development of spatial intelligence, and ignites the imagination. 3D printing increases active student engagement, emphasizes collaborative learning, and increases student exposure to problem solving skills and content knowledge. The physical touch can make the connection for students, it brings the concepts alive.
3D Printing and Biology- Curated Articles/ Videos
I decided to look into 3D printing in biology. It was hard to find articles on 3D printing and biology, but I found a couple.
In 6th grade my students study the human body. The first site I curated was a video of students at Marshall University printing out skeletons of extinct animals and bones in the hand that they needed to learn. In the 6th grade they could print out small models of an entire skeleton, that could be taken apart and put back together. They could also print out organ system, and learn how they work. Students also learn about cells structures, so bringing them into 3D form make understanding them much easier.
In 6th grade my student every year dissect a real sheeps heart and virtually dissect a frog on their iPads. I found an article from the Smithsonian where they were printing out whole frogs in parts, so instead of dissecting a frog, students can build a complete frog. I love the idea that an animal doesn’t have to die for our learning experience, that children aren’t exposed the harsh chemicals used in preserving the bodies, and yet still have the hands on learning experience of being able to look deeper into parts of the body.
This last one is a video about a child’s prosthetic hand, that he and his dad printed. The idea we are teaching students, is that anything is possible. Let make learning come alive, be engaging and fun, and let students explore endless possibilities.
Printing in plastic is just the beginning. What if we could print food, organs, cells, etc. What would our schools look like then?
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