3D Printing Case Studies Archives | Page 2 of 4 | Makers Empire | Design Thinking

How A 30-Year Veteran Teacher Went From 3D Printing Novice To 3D Printing Guru

Robin McGinnis is currently teaching 4th Grade Math and Science for the Mt. Healthy City School System. Last year, she was selected to be a part of the GE Additive Education Program 2017-18. Even though she had no previous experience with 3D printing, she took this opportunity and ran with it. Read her inspiring story...

How Mundulla PS Students used Design Thinking to Create Ideas for a New Town Entrance Sign

When educators at Mundulla Primary School (PS) in regional South Australia were trying to settle on a Design Thinking project using Makers Empire for their students last year, they didn't have to look very far. A local community group, Mundulla on the Move, was contemplating new signage for the town as the entrance to the town...

How Makers Empire Was A 3D Printing Game Changer For the Verona Area School District

Karie Huttner, the K-5 educational technology coach for the Verona Area School District has been teaching with 3D printing for 4-5 years. But her recent experience with Makers Empire has been an amazing game changer and transformative learning experience for both her students and teaching colleagues and we are thrilled to share it with you here....

How 3D Printing United My Class (and Helped Us Raise Funds for a Local Hospital!)

This guest post was written by Canadian grade 4/5 teacher, Jeff Hennigar. We are excited to share Jeff's story and hope that it inspires you as much as it inspires us. You can follow Jeff on Twitter here. Our 3D Printing Project by Jeff Hennigar We held a Make Sale at BLT Senior Elementary School's...

Why spatial intelligence is important and how to help develop it with 3D printing

You've heard of intellectual intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) a measure of a person's reasoning and emotional ability, respectively. But are you familiar with spatial intelligence and its importance in education and learning? Spatial intelligence or spatial ability is the skill required to mentally manipulate 2D and 3D objects. So why should classroom teachers...

10 Ways Teachers are Enhancing STEM Learning with 3D Printing

Few would argue that STEM learning in K-8 schools is a bad idea. But many are unaware of just how important these STEM initiatives are to our schools. As reported by CNBC, last year the US had three million STEM jobs left unfilled due to a lack of qualified workers. The same is true in...

Why Groveland Elementary Switched From Tinkercad to Makers Empire

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Colleen Small, the media specialist at Groveland Elementary in Minnesota, USA. She started using Makers Empire only a few months ago but is very happy she made the switch from Tinkercad. Compared to Tinkercad, both she and her students have found Makers Empire to be easier to...

7 ways schools are teaching Design Thinking using 3D Printing

Design thinking is a growing strategy for teaching at all levels. But what exactly is design thinking? Why is it important? Design thinking is a process for solving problems that involves asking questions, empathizing, experimenting and hands on testing. There are defined steps in the design thinking process: Empathize --> Define --> Ideate --> Prototype...

How Birdwood Primary School students solved a sticky problem with 3D printing

Wondering how to use 3D printing to teach STEM subjects, design thinking and 21st century skills? Be inspired by this new interview with Bianca Laister, the Deputy Principal and Student Wellbeing Coordinator at Birdwood Primary School, a school in regional South Australia. Prior to completing Makers Empire's Learning by Design course as part of the SA...

How Forbes Primary School students use 3D printing to solve a common classroom issue

At Forbes Primary School in South Australia, students have embraced 3D printing as a way to solve a common classroom problem. Every teacher and student knows the frustration students face when searching for their own bag within a sea of identical or similar looking bags. So the students at Forbes Primary School decided to use...

How Huntfield Heights School students use 3D printing to clean up local pollution

Teacher Aaron Vigor from Huntfield Heights Primary School was completely new to 3D printing before he embarked on the Learning by Design course with Makers Empire as part of the DECD rollout to 49 South Australian schools. "Before the project, I had no knowledge of 3D printing. I knew it existed but had no idea...

How students learned design thinking and persistence by inventing superhero gadgets

Wondering how to use 3D printing and design in the classroom as an authentic teaching tool while engaging students and achieving curriculum requirements? Be inspired by Abbie Krieg, a Year 3/4 Teacher at Snowtown Primary School (PS) in regional South Australia. Abbie has been teaching for five years and it's her fourth year teaching at Snowtown PS....

10YO boy invents world-first test strip disposal unit for diabetics using 3D printing

Where do good ideas come from? It's said that necessity is the mother of invention. Whether it's an everyday inconvenience or a big picture challenge, innovation is driven by people simply trying to solve a problem. In the case of 12YO William Grame, trying to solve an everyday frustration sparked an unexpected journey as an inventor...

How students at the British International School of Guangzhou use 3D printing to study simple machines

Grade 5 students at the British International School of Guangzhou have been studying simple machines like levers, wheels and pulleys. To enhance their learning, the students have been using Makers Empire 3D learning program. Rochelle D’Silva Jones, Grade 5 Teacher and Head of Primary Science at the British International School, explains that "simple machines are basic...

How Maplewood Intermediate School uses 3D printing to bring far away places into the classroom

We recently caught up with Lisa Hatton, a teacher at Maplewood Intermediate School, to hear about how her students are benefiting from integrating the Makers Empire 3D printing learning program into the classroom. Lisa has been using Makers Empire in her classroom for three years and in that time, her students have created some amazing projects....

Makers Empire partners with the South Australian Education Department in nation’s largest roll-out of 3D technology

In Australia's first large-scale rollout, 50 South Australian primary schools are taking part in a joint initiative between Makers Empire, the South Australian Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) and public schools to engage students in STEM using 3D technology. With professional learning support from Makers Empire and using Makers Empire's 3D software, teachers from each...

How Grade 4 students at the British International School of Guangzhou use 3D printing to study transportation

Six classes of grade 4 students at the British International School of Guangzhou have been studying the importance of transportation in today's society. The students are learning how transportation enables objects and living items to move from point to point. They compare different transportation methods (e.g. walking v pedal bikes v cars), and show how time influences...

2,000+ students in Lithuania take part in Makers Empire 3D Design Challenge

Over 2,000 students from 88 schools in Lithuania recently took part in a Makers Empire 3D Design Challenge to create their own 3D maze. The Makers Empire 3D Design Challenge in collaboration with Coded Success and organizer Antanas Guoga was a huge success. Students were tasked with the challenge of designing a 3D marble run...

How 3D design and printing inspires learning across the curriculum

We recently caught up with Kim Smith (below), the amazing technology director for St. Ann School in New Jersey and learned about the fantastic ways she is using the Makers Empire 3D Printing Learning Program. St. Ann School has been using the Makers Empire 3D printing learning program across all grade levels. In this post,...

How Braemar College created a sculpture made out of 840 3D printed blocks using Makers Empire

Braemar College in Australia celebrated its 40th anniversary in a unique way - the school created a sculpture made out of 840 3D printed blocks designed by the school community using Makers Empire 3D! From their blog: "In 1976, Braemar College commenced with 202 students and 15 staff. 40 years on, the College has 820 students...

How students in Australia and China exchange cultures via 3D printing

Last year, Immanuel College in Adelaide, South Australia and ISA International School in Guangzhou, China, took part in Makers Empire's Global Design Program to facilitate cultural exchange via 3D design and printing. The City Exchange Project ran from September to November 2016 and involved 54 grade 7 students from Immanuel College and 12 students from ISA International...

How St. Ann School students use 3D printing to develop STEM skills and social awareness

We recently caught up with Kim Smith (below), the amazing Technology Director for St. Ann School in New Jersey to learn about the fantastic ways she is using the Makers Empire 3D Printing Learning Program at the school. St. Ann School has used the Makers Empire 3D printing learning program since 2016 across all grade levels....

How Redlands School students study space exploration with 3D Printing

At Makers Empire, we love hearing about the clever ways schools use 3D printing and design to enhance and transform their students' learning experience. We recently caught up with Shireen Winrow, the E-learning facilitator at Redlands School in Sydney, Australia, to discuss how they have been using Makers Empire at Redlands. A Microsoft Innovate Expert Educator, Shireen is...

How Mont Claire Elementary students are using 3D Printing to study their heritage

Jennifer Auten is a 2nd-grade teacher from Mont Claire Elementary School in Los Altos, CA, who also blogs at A Journey of iPads in 2nd Grade and tweets at @gr2ipadteacher. While she loves integrating technology, in particular, iPads, into her classroom teaching, she had no prior experience with 3D printing until she started using Makers Empire's 3D printing learning program. We recently spoke with her about...

How Sturt Street Community School students learn about local history with 3D printing

Last year, the SA office of the National Trust asked Makers Empire to consult on a pilot project designed to get primary school students learning and thinking about the buildings in their local area. We suggested teaming up with a local school, Sturt Street Community School, whose students and teachers were already very active using our 3D printing learning program. We...

How students at Fulham North Primary School use the buddy system in 3D printing classes

Students at Fulham North Primary School have been using the buddy system in their 3D printing classes to enhance the learning opportunities for students. We recently spoke with Monica Berno, a grade 6/7 teacher there about how she is using Makers Empire 3D printing learning program in her classroom. Monica has been teaching at Fulham North Primary...

How St Michaels School students are building relationships with 3D printing

Using Makers Empire 3D printing learning program has resulted in a few unexpected -- and extremely positive -- outcomes for students at St Michaels School. Kate Tyrwhitt is the R-7 Visual Arts Teacher and Student Services Teacher at St Michaels, an all boys school in South Australia with a strong focus on learning and technology. We recently spoke with...

How Grade 5 Students at The Scots College Solve Natural Disaster Problems

Students at Scots College are using Makers Empire 3D: Schools learning program to investigate ways to solve real life problems. For example, Grade 5 students at the school carried out a series of inquiry based investigations and experiments during their Science/HSIE unit on 'natural disasters'. The students identified types of natural disasters and explored the common...

How STEM and 3D Printing can benefit regional communities

In 2014, Makers Empire partnered with the South Australian education department (DECD) to pilot 3D printing in primary schools. This pilot included 18 schools in and around Mt Gambier and was steered by Education Director, Adam Box, and his colleague, Emma Handford, Business and Partnerships Manager. Makers Empire recently talked with Emma and Adam about their experiences...

How North Adelaide Primary School used a gallery visit to inspire a 3D printing lesson

If you are a teacher looking for authentic learning involving art and 3D printing, here is a great example shared by North Adelaide Primary School, one of our Lighthouse Schools. John Western, a teacher at North Adelaide Primary School, explains his class project: "My grade 4 class at North Adelaide Primary School visited the Art Gallery...

Category: 3D Printing Case Studies