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

5 Ways Makers Empire has Become a Tool of Transformation in My Classroom

This guest post was written by Kate Tyrwhitt, Visual Arts Teacher at St Michael's College in Australia and a Makers Empire Ambassador. Kate has a background in Fine Arts and adopts a creative approach to teaching primary school children. She is a frequent presenter at education conferences and her innovative approach to teaching was recently recognised with...

600 Schools in the 2018 GE Additive Education Program Off To A Great Start!

Recent research shows the compelling learning benefits that can be achieved for students and teachers with 3D printing in the primary school classroom. 3D technology creates a fun, hands-on experience for students with cutting edge technology while positioning them as as creators, inventors and engineers. Through the Design Cycle, students learn how to solve real-world...

Kids Will Change the World with 3D Printers | A Video by GE

More than 3,000 schools from around the world applied for this year’s GE Additive Education Program, with 600 schools from 30 countries accepted. Over the next year, GE will deliver 3D printers—along with supplies, software and an education curriculum—to primary and secondary schools around the world. Makers Empire is managing the education component of this...

How 5th Graders at Woodsdale Elementary Learned About Engineering with 3D Printing

Coming up with ways to let students experience the engineering design process first-hand in the K-8 classroom can be a challenge. But under the guidance of their teacher, Sandra Weisman (above), the 5th-grade students at Woodsdale Elementary made it happen. By using Makers Empire and 3D printing they implemented the engineering design process to develop...

How Prospect PS Students Created An Accessible Playground Using 3D Printing

Wondering how to use 3D printing as an authentic teaching tool in a primary, elementary or middle school environment? Be inspired by students from a school in Australia who used it to help solve an accessibility issue within the school community. Prospect Primary School was one of almost 50 South Australian schools who took part in...

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...

How Morphett Vale PS Students Learn About Entrepreneurship with 3D printing

Teachers unfamiliar with 3D printing are often unsure how to use it as an authentic teaching tool. So be inspired by educators from a school in Australia who used 3D printing to teach primary school students about entrepreneurship, product design and marketing. Morphett Vale Primary School was one of almost 50 South Australian schools who took...

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...

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...

Department for Education (SA)’s Showcase of 3D Printing in Schools Celebrates Learning

On July 5th, 2018, over 500 teachers, students and invited guests attended the Department for Education (SA)'s and Makers Empire's 3D Printing in Primary Schools Showcase Day at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Designed to celebrate the learning achieved during the 2018 3D Printing in Primary Schools Project (Phase 3: Part 1), the Showcase Day saw almost...

How 3D Printed ‘Not So Flat’ Stanleys Support Literacy at Woodsdale Elementary School

Think 3D printing and 3D design is just for teaching students technology skills? Think again. With guidance from Sandra Wiseman (above), a library media/technology integration specialist, 2nd-grade students at Woodsdale Elementary School found an authentic way to develop literacy and practice their communication skills with 3D printed ‘not so flat’ Flat Stanleys from the beloved American book...

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,...

Category: Case Studies: 3D Printing