What was once reserved for Science Fiction is now more affordable that an iPad. 3D printing is upon us. A question that always comes up from educators is “how do I incorporate this into my existing course requirements?” Teachers always wonder how to bring a 3d printer into their classrooms and their students. Yet many have used the same tools to teach core subjects and sometimes incorporating new ideas requires some help. Studica is here to help.

3D Printer Lesson Plans

If you are struggling to create a lesson plan that would bring 3D printing into your classroom. Here is a barebones example that you can start with and build upon.
• Students design a 3D object.
• They draw digitally in a free 3D software like Autodesk 123D.
• They measure the dimensions on both screen and print to scale on paper.
• Then they print the 3D object using a 3D printer and validate the design and concretizing the concepts of learning with a physical object born from their own creativity.

More importantly, this lesson costs about $ 1 per student in consumable supplies .
This innovation in teaching techniques is not possible without a DaVinci 1.0 3D printer from Studica , available immediately for $499 USD and inexpensive $28 USD per cartridge. Inexpensive to buy and inexpensive to continue to systematically use in your classroom.

3D Printing Fits into Learning

A modeling approach is often used in relation to Science, Mathematics and Technology learning. The modeling approach involves constructing a representation of an abstract situation difficult or impossible to see. The model developed can take various forms: text, drawing, mathematical formula, chemical equation, computer program or model.

The idea is simple. Traditionally, we ask students to create their ideas in 3D, then transcribe them into 2D versions they can express on paper and then project those ideas into a 3d virtual world using software tools such as SketchUp, SolidWorks, Inventor, AutoCAD etc. Yet, the most exciting part of the project – turning ideas into reality is left by the wayside. How great would it be if your students could physically make the reality of the theory in a physical forms. Here is where the 3d printer can play a transforming role.