More and more schools are embracing technology and hands-on learning, which is why 3D printers are an ideal resource for today’s school. They can help bring history to life, help students discover practical applications for math and science, and get them excited about working together in the classroom. Using 3D printers in your classroom curriculum isn’t just an exciting way to engage your students, though. It’s also teaching them critical skills they will use throughout their school career as well as in their work life. Here are some of the skills they’ll be building when working with 3D printers.
Help Your Students Build These Skills
Problem-solving.
In order to create a successful 3D design, your students will need to exercise their problem-solving skills. That’s because there are a number of things they’ll need to consider when designing their project, using their critical thinking skills to create something that’s going to come out the way they’d planned. If things don’t go right the first time, they’ll need to go back to the drawing board to solve the issues and give it another try.
Resilience.
Most students will need to try more than once to get their projects to come out the way they’d imagined. This could mean they’ll need to design and redesign their projects until they are just right. This teaches them that just because they fail the first time doesn’t mean the project is a complete failure; it just means they’ll need to try again. This resilience plays into something else schools are trying to teach students: grit. Teaching them to stick it out and having the determination to see their ideas come to fruition is a great skill to teach them, and something more students need to learn.
Collaboration.
Most schools encourage students to work together on their 3D printing projects. This gives them a chance to work on their collaboration skills, which is something they’ll need to know how to do when they get to college and the workforce. Giving everyone a chance to give their input on the project and bring together a variety of ideas is a great way for students to combine their talents into something really special.
The Benefits of Learning These Skills with a 3D Printer
Of course, there are other ways to help students learn these skills, but there are additional benefits to using a 3D printer to do it.
It’s a tool of the future.
3D printing isn’t a fad; this is something that’s going to be one of the major tools of the future. Teaching students now how to use this tool gives them a jump on some of the practical skills they’ll need in the future job market. It can inspire them to learn about CAD, engineering, design, art, math, and other interests that could help them find success in the future.
It offers opportunities for multidisciplinary learning.
Many schools are combining multiple disciplines into one project. They might combine math and art, history and science, or other seemingly disparate classes to show how they can work together. This is a great way to encourage students to collaborate with others they might not normally interact with as well as expand their understanding of other disciplines.
They get to see an idea come to life.
This is really what gets students excited about 3D printing. It gives them the opportunity to create something that’s tangible, and they get to design it from beginning to end. For some students, this might be the first time they’ve been able to do something like this, and it’s an exciting feeling and may motivate students who are normally reticent to participate.
Let AET Labs Help Bring 3D Printers to Your Classroom
3D printing is predicted to be a major tool of the future. From food to clothing to buildings and more, we’ll be relying on 3D printing more and more in our everyday lives. It’s time to teach these skills to students in the classroom and offer them the additional benefits and skills they can learn from the project. If you are ready to bring 3D printers into your school, AET Labs can help. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our 3D printers and other educational training products.
