Case Studies of Design Thinking in Schools
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How Students at Richmond PS Learned English by Making 3D Printed Furniture for a Dollhouse
When classroom teacher Diana Harris was considering what 3D printing furniture project to do with her students, she was inspired by her students' own personal experiences in coming to Australia. Diana's class at Richmond Primary School in Australia has an Intensive English Language Program as her students are all newly arrived in Australia. So when...
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How Joseph P. Tynan Elementary is Using Design Thinking & 3D Printing To Empower Students
As a 3rd-5th Grade STEM teacher at Joseph P. Tynan Elementary School in Boston, Christopher Burdman (above, left) is used to coming up with interesting ways to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects. Last year, his school was selected to be part of the GE Additive Education Program, which gave them access to 3D printers...
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How West Lakes Shore PS Students Solve Sustainability Issues with Design Thinking
Wondering how to use 3D printing and Design Thinking as authentic teaching tools in a primary, elementary or middle school environment? Be inspired by students from a school in Australia who used them to help solve multiple sustainability issues within the school community. West Lakes Shore Primary School was one of almost 50 South Australian schools...
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Teaching Design Thinking with Makers Empire
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The Power of Maker Pedagogy & 8 ways to Spot It and Embed It in the Classroom
I am becoming increasingly convinced that maker pedagogy has the power to develop critical, creative and design thinking, and the creative confidence and self-belief our young people need to become innovators, problem-solvers and positive change makers. I can often be heard sprouting the virtues of constructionist learning theory. Occasionally, I am pulled up on this...
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New Makers Empire 13-Part 'Design Thinking' Professional Development Series for Teachers
As part of the Makers Empire School Subscription, teachers gain access to an innovative, 13-part professional development (PD) video series in the Teacher's Dashboard. This series is designed to help teachers successfully teach Design Thinking, implement maker pedagogy and use 3D design and 3D printing an authentic teaching tool. This on-demand video series replaces Makers...
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5 Ways Design & Technology Curricula are Changing and How Makers Empire Can Help
We hear a lot of talk about what it's going to take for our young people to thrive and survive in their 21st-century futures. It's become almost cliched to talk about 21st-century skills but it is fair to say that many of today's school students will be working in jobs that don't yet exist and...
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Teaching STEM/STEAM with Makers Empire
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The Interdisciplinary Power of STEM
STEM has been a hot topic for some time now, and we need it to stay that way as educators, industry and government work together to make sure that our young people are well equipped to thrive in the future. I think we can all agree that our young people are heading into a future...
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How to Teach the ‘E’ in STEM with 3D Printing: Engineering in Primary School
Are we teaching all the letters in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics) or are some receiving more attention than others? If you look around, math and science are staples of education, while technology is integrated into many areas of student learning. But what about engineering? Engineering, the ‘E’ in STEM, is often overlooked, especially...
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Encouraging Girls in STEM: How Your School Can Make A Difference
The shortage of women in STEM careers and STEM fields has been well documented. Girls that enjoy STEM subjects in primary and elementary school grow into young women who may then go on to study STEM subjects in high school and a STEM-related degree at college or university. This provides a pathway to a career...
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Bite-Sized K-8 Lesson Ideas
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How to Teach the ‘E’ in STEM with 3D Printing: Engineering in Primary School
Are we teaching all the letters in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics) or are some receiving more attention than others? If you look around, math and science are staples of education, while technology is integrated into many areas of student learning. But what about engineering? Engineering, the ‘E’ in STEM, is often overlooked, especially...
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5 (fun) ways 3D printing is transforming everyday items
At Makers Empire, our mission is to transform K-8 learning with 3D printing technology. We know what it takes to successfully integrate this technology into the classroom and we can provide the support to make it a success for your school or school district. But occasionally we just like to remind ourselves just how fun 3D printing can...
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Top Ten English 3D Design Lesson Ideas
The 3D design environment provides an exciting context for students to communicate, respond to texts and express themselves in different ways. Looking for a simple 3D design lesson idea to try with your class? Here are ten of our favourite language based lesson ideas. 1. Character Design Before students begin writing a narrative, challenge them to...
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Insider Tips, Hacks, Guides & Reviews
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Unboxing & Setting Up the Flashforge Inventor IIS 3D Printer (Step-by-Step Photo Guide)
This article will walk you through the process of unboxing and setting up your FlashForge Inventor IIS 3D printer bought from Makers Empire so it is ready for printing. Please read each step fully before viewing the photos and animations that accompany them. [su_spacer size="40"] What you will need: Scissors and/or side cutters Floor space...
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What Teachers Need to Know about Safety and Air Filters Re: 3D Printers in Schools
3D printing and design offer elementary, primary and middle school educators countless learning opportunities for enhanced student performance, engagement and learning. Check out our case studies for dozens of inspiring examples of real-life classroom learning. As with all new technologies used in a school environment, educators need to understand the technology from a health and...
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Best 3D Printers for Primary and Elementary Schools - Updated July 2018
Choosing a 3D printer for your school can be a difficult decision. While many printers will be great for high school students or a hobbyist, some are less suited for regular use in a K-8 classroom or library environment. At Makers Empire, we’ve helped thousands of K-8 teachers in Australia, America, Europe and Asia integrate...
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How To Guides to Designing in 3D (Videos)
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Tour the Exciting Changes to Makers Empire 3D Modeling Software (VIDEO)
In this video, Matt from Makers Empire takes you on a guided tour of the latest version of Makers Empire's 3D modeling software. With Makers Empire, K-8 students can start designing, exploring and sharing in minutes – no CAD or computing experience necessary! The latest version of Makers Empire 3D, the world’s easiest to use 3D design...
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How to make a 3D Printed 'Feelings' Dice (VIDEO)
In this step-by-step video, which accompanies our Emotions Monitor Lesson Plan, we're going to show students how to make a Feelings Dice. As seen in the great family movie, Inside Out, we are often controlled, led or swayed by our feelings. Learning how to recognise our feelings and express them in a healthy way is...
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How to Help Theo the Dog Solve His Stick Problem (VIDEO)
Theo the Dog has a problem. He wants to carry a stick across a bridge but the stick is too wide for the narrow bridge. Can you help him design a solution to help him carry his stick over the bridge using Makers Empire 3D software? In this new step-by-step video, we'll show your students...
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Monthly Design Thinking In-App Competition
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Find A Way 3D Design Thinking Competition Winners!
We are proud to announce the winners of Makers Empire's Design Thinking competition from July: Find A Way! In this competition, students were challenged to design a complex 3D maze that they could get lost in. This was the original design challenge: We enjoyed all of the competition submissions! The mazes that students created were incredibly complex...
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Splash Down 3D Design Competition Winners!
We are proud to announce the winners of Makers Empire's Design Thinking competition from June: Splash Down! In this competition, students were challenged to design a landing pad where bees could safely access the water to drink. This was the original design challenge: We enjoyed all of the competition submissions! The students created such thoughtful, practical and creative...
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Super Gadget 3D Design Competition Winners!
We are proud to announce the Super Gadget 3D design competition winners! Students were challenged to create a superhero character and then design a new super gadget the superhero needs to fight supervillains. This was the original design challenge: We enjoyed all of the competition submissions! The students showed lots of innovation and inventor skills...
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Makers Empire News and Announcements
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New Student Assessment (Design & Technology) Feature in Makers Empire to Help Teachers
Student assessment is one of those tasks that teachers have to undertake regularly throughout the school year. With that in mind, we're happy to announce a new student assessment (Design & Technology) feature in the Makers Empire Teacher's Dashboard that'll make life easier for teachers. Aligned with international teaching standards, this new feature will make...
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SDE National Conference Giveaway Winners
The Makers Empire team, and our awesome Makers Empire Ambassadors, regularly spread the word about Design Thinking, maker pedagogy and 3D design and printing in schools at education conferences, events and workshops in Australia and America. Karie Huttner, the inspiring K-5 Technology Coordinator from Verona Area School District, who we've previously interviewed about her 3D...
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New Makers Empire 13-Part 'Design Thinking' Professional Development Series for Teachers
As part of the Makers Empire School Subscription, teachers gain access to an innovative, 13-part professional development (PD) video series in the Teacher's Dashboard. This series is designed to help teachers successfully teach Design Thinking, implement maker pedagogy and use 3D design and 3D printing an authentic teaching tool. This on-demand video series replaces Makers...
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