3D Printing

We have had our 3D printer in the library since the June/July holidays and it has been almost constantly printing out designs.  We have been keen to experiment as much as possible with what can be done and so teachers and students are being encouraged to use it as much as they like. We have run one staff session at which there was a 3D printing station with teachers having the opportunity to look at the models in various stages of creation  and to use apps that we are recommending for the purpose.   With the students, the idea has seemed to spread  quickly and students of all ages have been dropping in to see what is printer in action.  There is a real buzz of excitement around and there seems to be a constant group of children standing in front of the area in which we have the printer.   They have also been known to rush back at 3pm to check on things they have started.

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We have set up a little display area and are soon to add posters and other images.  I am working on getting a similar display in the office admin area as well.

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From downloading models that have been created by others, the students and teachers are now starting to design their own models.  Dylan, Connor and Rohan in Year 5 have had the  most success with this so far with two of their designs appearing below:

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It has been interesting talking to the students about how we are all learning and that this involves making mistakes and accepting that often mistakes are the best way to learn.  FAIL – first attempt in learning!    Below are some of our failures which have shown us, much more than the successes, what a good design looks like.

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We have just been told that four of our ICT Explorer Groups have been shortlisted to go to the judging event at UQ in two weeks.  Ben and Scott in Year 6 are already including some 3D printing in their project.  They have worked on a project about grafitti and the need for public spaces for this.   To support the message in their Blender animation, they are creating the characters as 3D models and printing them out to create a diorama mini-display at their booth.

 

 

2 comments

  1. I loved reading your blog about your 3D printing projects. We are also a trial school (Golden Beach State School) and have noticed the same vib around our school. We too have set up the printer in the resource centre and many children and teachers visit to check out what is happening throughout the day. We are also experimenting with different coloured filaments.

  2. Hi Tracy – I read about your trial on the LP – you were doing a massive amount of stuff! It is exciting times……

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