Tuesday, October 4, 2016
3D Printing
As I looked through the articles on 3-D printing from the Smithsonian and Thingiverse, I became intrigued by what I saw. I knew that many people had been using 3-D printing for awhile now, but I didn't fathom the full extent of its application. The Smithsonian's use of printing to preserve history stands as my favorite application so far. The ability to take something either lost to history or badly damaged and recreate it for the use of education seems far more practical than simply creating a case for your iPhone 6. However, Thingiverse has many practical applications as well. I think back on the scaled model of the T-Rex skull that we looked at in class last week, and I found similar models on Thingiverse. I enjoy that 3-D printing has taken on the form of education, rather than just a form of art--which has its own uses in society. If I were to use a 3-D printer in my hypothetical classroom, it would be as a supplemental element on a creative project. Being an English major, I imagine assigning a creative project over an author or a piece of literature and allowing the students to create an object that represents and encompasses a feature of their project. For example, if a student were to choose "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, that student might want to create a model of a perched raven or, perhaps, a bust of the speakers lost love, Lenore. I think that the 3-D printer has functional and useful applications no matter the chosen subject, and I look forward to experimenting with it further!
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I am glad you have fun and we learn together!!--though the process is a bit difficult.... 3D printing is a technology that allows users to turn any digital file into a three dimensional physical product. One of the good things about this printing technology is that it changes the dynamic of consumer culture. In other words, it turns users from being passive consumers to active creators!
ReplyDeleteI think that is what is amazing about the 3D printer also is the ability for it to improve education in every subject area. Prior to reading your post I was having a hard time thinking of how it could fit into an English classroom, but the idea you have of using it think would be great. I also was very impressed with how it was being used by the Smithsonian to scan historical sites. I feel like this opens up so many learning opportunities that in the past were not accessible to students or researchers.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of preserving history through 3D printing is simply amazing. When I browsed through Thingiverse, I was awestruck by the possibilities this has for me as a future elementary teacher. My head is still reeling from it. I simply love your ideas of utilizing this technology for a subject that is not as visual and hands-on as many other subjects. This just, once again, shows how beneficial 3D printing can be for any classroom.
ReplyDeleteI love the way that you suggested using 3-D printing in the English classroom. English was one of the hardest things for me to become interested. I love numbers and working with those kinds of things. I was never really interested in English, but I believe using technology in that way would have engaged me more.
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