blog
3D PRINTING IN EDUCATION
Applying 3D printing in education has a wide variety of important uses in primary and secondary schools, universities, libraries, technical colleges, and other educational
3D printing has changed the manufacturing world for the better. Many manufacturers use 3D printing or additive manufacturing technologies to produce airplane parts, prosthetic limbs, and even 3D-printed medications.
In education, 3D printing technologies facilitate improved learning, skills development, and increased student and teacher engagement with the subject matter. Furthermore, 3D printing sparks greater creativity and collaboration in solving problems.
How is 3D Printing Used in Education?
Broadly speaking, there are four main use cases for 3D printing in educational settings, which are:
- Teaching students about 3D printing, how 3D printing technology works, and its applications in real-world scenarios (e.g. streamlining industrial processes)
- Informing educators about 3D printing so it can be incorporated appropriately into learning curriculums
- Improving student creativity and design skills
- Printing artifacts that aid students’ understanding of important concepts (e.g. 3D-printed anatomical artifacts)
3D Printing in Schools
Educators can include 3D printing at all school levels, from primary through to secondary (high school). 3D printing technologies enable educators to provide students with accurate physical prototypes, which provides practical, hands-on knowledge useful for understanding scientific concepts. Find out about applying 3D printing to STEM learning in the dedicated STEM learning section of this page.
Using 3D-printed objects during oral presentations and demonstrations can improve students’ public-speaking abilities. Public speaking skills become crucial when students enter the workforce. Educators can also use 3D-printed visualizations to improve spatial education. Overall, much of the research on 3D printing in education highlights how 3D-printed arti facts provide learning benefits that are not achievable with screen- or paper-based learning. Improved understanding comes through touching and physically observing 3D-printed objects. 3D printing promotes learning through exploration instead of outdated methods that only focus on learning from textbooks.
It is crucial to get a 3D printer that is suitable for how you want to use this technology to educate students. Schools need robust printers built for the demands of daily classroom use while also being affordable and user-friendly. Our expert team can advise you on a suitable 3D printer for your school.
3D Printing in Universities
At the third level of education, there is greater scope to teach students how 3D printing technology works. Many third-level universities and technical colleges now incorporate 3D printing modules and projects into engineering, applied sciences, and other courses.
Third-level 3D printing modules focus on building 3D printers from scratch in addition to fabricating 3D models using different materials. The need for explicit knowledge of 3D printing is reflected in how dedicated modules have been included in computer graphics courses, industrial engineering, and CAD.
MIT has its own graduate and advanced undergraduate course teaching the fundamentals of 3D printing. The University of Texas and Virginia Tech have followed suit with their own courses and certificates covering 3D printing and design principles for additive manufacturing.
3D printing also provides many opportunities to aid visual and practical learning across the sciences. 3D-printed components are often used as test models for scientific experiments across different disciplines, including mechanical engineering, aerospace, and robotics.
Universities have similar requirements to schools for 3D printers. Third-level educators need fast and reliable printers with an added emphasis on functionality. Get the advice you need on 3D printers suitable for use in universities and technical colleges by contacting us
Teacher Training
3D printing cannot be successfully used in education without educators who understand the design principles of additive manufacturing and how to use 3D printers and filaments. Teacher training, ongoing professional development, and 3D printing workshops can ensure students get the most from 3D printing being used in education.
3D Printing in Libraries
Libraries in the digital era are not just about books—the nature of libraries is changing to reflect how people learn about subjects using new technologies. Libraries provide an easy way to introduce 3D printing ideas and technologies to a large variety of potential users.
Having 3D printers in public libraries improves collaboration and knowledge exchange between people interested in learning about it while removing barriers to entry. Many libraries now have dedicated makerspaces with 3D printers available for use by all library members.
University libraries are one of the few cross-disciplinary areas on college campuses. Having 3D printers in a university library makes the technology available to all students rather than restricting its use to engineering or science departments.
The best 3D printer for a library is typically going to be similar to what we would recommend for classroom use. You need a printer that is affordable, durable, and fast, and we can point you in the right direction.
What is STEM Education?
STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to educating children from an early age with knowledge and skills in the four key disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These four core disciplines drive much of the economic development and innovation in the modern world.
People employed in STEM fields change the world through their daily work, whether by coming up with novel medical treatments for illnesses, researching cures for life-threatening illnesses, or creating new technologies.
By enabling learners to engage with STEM concepts from a young age, STEM education aims to adopt a new learning approach that goes beyond the ability to remember facts and procedures. STEM encourages people to use their creativity, critical thinking, knowledge, and skills in real-world situations.
What is STEAM Education?
STEAM education builds on the foundations of STEM education and embeds the arts into its educational philosophy. The idea behind STEAM is that it applies the arts to these four disciplines to create new ways of solving problems, innovating through creativity, and presenting information in new ways.
Applications of 3D Printing in STEM Classes
Here are some of the main ways 3D printing improves learning in STEM/STEAM classrooms:
- Using drag-and-drop CAD programs, students can create and design simple machines by assembling the parts. Students can bring these concepts to life by 3D printing them. In this way, 3D printing provides an excellent foundation for future engineering work.
- Building prototypes to encourage creativity and critical thinking.
- Enable students to use CAD software to solve problems and 3D print prototypes of their models.
- Teaching complex geometry concepts with 3D printing visualizations, which help spatial imagination.
In summary, embedding 3D printing in STEM and STEAM learning encourages the critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills needed for future workforces to thrive in these crucial STEM/STEAM disciplines.
Get Started with 3D Printers in STEM Education Today
3D printers are more affordable than ever and easier to use. By investing in a 3D printer, your classrooms provide the foundation for future generations to continue innovating and solving problems.
In addition to investing in a suitable 3D printer, you will need materials such as filament for printing. Prices for 3D printers vary from a few hundred Euros to several thousand Euros. It is important to get a printer that fits your school’s budget and needs, and that’s where we come in with expert advice.
To get started with 3D printing in your STEM/STEAM classroom, contact us today.
