What South Australian Teachers Say
“This was the best PD that I have been involved in for ages… This whole project has been inspiring for teachers and students in empowering students to become change makers. Our students were so engaged and excited about solving a real world problem… The fact that they could see they could help someone through their own design, meant their learning was authentic and valued.”
“Most students had minimal prior knowledge to 3D printing (so) all classes started with the ‘Introduction to 3D printing’ (found on the Makers Empire website). I then looked through the lesson library and found the Chocolate Moulds unit of work, which focuses on students learning about measuring volumes and capacity by designing and printing a chocolate mould. I slightly tweaked it as it needed to engage and cater to students from Reception to year 7, and I also wanted to build more empathy with students. So we decided to make chocolate moulds as a Christmas present for a family member. I really enjoyed seeing the variations of designs from students in reception to year 7.”
“Makers Empire is friendly towards all ability groups and help engage students who are less motivated to be working in the classroom. It gives students the opportunity to be creative and learn by trial and error in a digital format. On paper some students get disheartened when drawing designs and have to erase mistakes and makes their work look messy. Using this program it is simple to remove mistakes. I think this has been a fantastic tool to have in the classroom. I have many teacher friends and have actually shown them the program and they are all very impressed.”
“A roadmap to start 3D printing at our school.”
“I have to commend the recent update to Makers Empire. The precision mode is a great addition, particularly for our older students, who have been loving it already. It’s really nice to use a product that is built around kids and teachers and can evolve with their needs. Thank you for consistently taking and considering our feedback and improving your already great product. I had a class of Receptions and Year ones today. The Year ones were working in ME and the Receptions were chomping at the bit to get in too! We have been loving using the Toy Designer with our younger students, as the access level is just right for them to create unique 3D models from their own imagination, but scaffolded enough for them to easily learn the tools in a lesson. I’m very glad we are using Makers Empire.”
“Learning the ins and outs of new technologies can be a daunting task that many teachers simply do not have time for. Thankfully, teachers don’t need to be experts to get the ball rolling with Makers Empire. A key strength is that so much learning is built right into the platform. Students progress through tutorials at their own pace, with written and spoken instructions there to guide them. My students think they’re just playing a computer game when they use Makers Empire, but from a teacher’s perspective, I see them developing vital spatial skills, persistence and confidence while experiencing how technology can enable them to become problem solvers of the future. Makers Empire has resulted in one of the smoothest introductions of new technologies at our school. It is accessible for a range of ages and abilities, it is a versatile tool that can be applied for many purposes and the Makers Empire team has been there to support us through whatever hurdle we’ve encountered along our journey.”
“Students developed a range of design skills..They learnt what the design process looked like, learnt how to create their designs in Shaper, learnt about scale when printing their designs. Students learnt to measure their objects as well as problem solved to make their design as similar on Makers Empire as their initial design… the students were so engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience…(Makers Empire) is a wonderful program that engages all students well!”
“I have seen numerous benefits from our ‘Nature Play’ project and other 3D printing learning we have undertaken at Blakeview Primary School. During our 3D design lessons on the iPads using Makers Empire, the most significant benefit I have noticed has been the increase in student engagement. I have witnessed an increase in teamwork and positive interactions between students, which involved the sharing of learning and discoveries between groups. Students were able to work together to collaborate on projects and use each other’s varying strengths. They offered guidance and gave each other constructive feedback on what they liked about other designs and gave helpful suggestions for improvement, which promoted the persistence required to perfect their designs. Students also developed their spatial awareness through the ability to transfer and manipulate their 2D design plans and reproduce them into 3D design models… The success and accomplishment that was felt by solving a real-world problem with our ‘Nature Play’ project was incredible. The students that were involved feel a strong connection to the space and are proud of how their small idea and hopes turned into something real that could be enjoyed by the whole school and members of the community.”
“Makers Empire provides so much more than a great app but resources and connections to curriculum, industry and innovation in our society.”
“I don’t think there was one child in the group that didn’t achieve something with it… Also, there was never a problem with them going back and doing something again. If this was a writing project and I asked them, ‘can you go back and redo this?’, the kids would groan. But, if we said, ‘I really like the way you did this but can you go back and try this?’, they would,”
“At Scotch College Adelaide, 3D printing has been integrated into the Year 6 curriculum during the past 12 months. The pupils really enjoy utilising 3D printing technology in the classroom and the session provided by Makers Empire allowed the students to showcase their knowledge and creativity. This was yet another opportunity for our students to extend their learning.”
“It has been great to have this subscription to deliver STEAM sessions virtually – without it I would not have been able to run my sessions at all. Thanks for sharing this resource.”
“Makers Empire is an age-appropriate platform for designing and 3D printing.”
“We’ve been using Makers Empire throughout the college and in Technology lessons for a while now, but this was the first time we used it in our classroom with our year 7s. The students thoroughly enjoyed the game-like structure of the program and were keen to work through levels to unlock parts for their designs… when we found the Global Design Program that Makers Empire ran, we were incredibly keen to connect with other schools… The learning that occurred from this project was invaluable and more than just curriculum based. Whilst the students learned about livability from researching and designing parts of a city that adhere to Mercers Quality of Living Factors, they learned about what living and cities are like in China from first-person conversations and experiences – a far deeper intercultural understanding than what they could possibly gain from textbooks and the internet.”
“This was the first school I had worked in which had an easy to use 3D printer set up with a designated computer attached to it. It was easy to log in to Makers Empire as a teacher and print the student’s designs directly rather than having to save files to USB’s or send from a classroom and run across to the printer etc. It’s great that 3D printers are becoming more affordable. All our colleagues and classes incorporate 3D printing into at least 1 of their Inquiry or digital tech studies so that the whole school are utilising the 3D printers rather than them collecting dust.”
“These are crazy times we’re now living in and our staff are feeling quite stressed and inundated about the current situation. The free resources you have provided will help to lighten the workload.”
“Participation in the project is a learning experience not to be missed. Your students will learn from you and you will learn from them. Collaboration, communication, creativity and problem-solving skills will be enhanced as you progress through the design thinking process with space in mind.”
‘I found Makers Empire to be incredibly user-friendly. In particular, it was very “school” friendly. There are very easy processes for children of all ages and literacy levels to log onto their accounts saving so much time and stress… the learning is in the process, not the product. You could very successfully use Makers Empire without ever actually printing anything (but it is a lot more fun and exciting when you can print it!)… All unit plans have direct links to the curriculum including the Digital Technologies curriculum. The deeper I delve into using Makers Empire the more opportunities I see for using maths in an authentic manner, particularly when using the Shaper app with measurements, shapes etc.”
“Thank you all at Maker’s Empire for your support of our learning programs in STEM over the last seven years that we have been involved with Makers Empire. The opportunities that 3D printing brings are amazing and the confidence and inquisitiveness that it builds is awesome. You have a fabulous team, including your amazing techs. I have sought help numerous times from your tech team and they are without fault. I will continue to tell other teachers of the amazing product and team that Makers Empire is. Keep doing what you are doing, it is so important!”
“The Makers Empire – Andy Thomas Foundation Kids in Space Project was a comprehensive learning experience for both staff and students. Firstly building teachers’ knowledge with quality PD on space and Makers Empire enabled teachers to confidently teach the students. The students were highly engaged in the learning, empowered to problem solve and be creative to solve space issues whilst developing their skills on Makers Empire. The showcase event with other schools around the state was a highlight. I would highly recommend this project for schools to participate in.”
“Makers Empire is an interactive, ‘kid-friendly’, easy to use and intuitive CAD Package.”
“As a school we need to ensure we provide as many broad opportunities as possible to promote and prepare our students to be life-long learners. Many of the jobs that exist today will be obsolete by the time our children enter the workforce. As a school we are excited by the creative and innovative opportunities the relationship with Makers Empire will bring through 3D design and printing.”
“The Year 7 class at Westminster Preparatory School had a fantastic time… Students had the opportunity to design and create their own 3D object. This was a great way for them to learn about the design process from both concept to production. We believe this technology has a place in student learning and fits in nicely with the Australian Curriculum and many levels of primary education.”
“I think the lesson plans are fantastic for teachers – especially those who may find the hardest part being the inspiration/ideas on where to start…The Makers Empire app is a MASSIVE value add to the learning. We could have taught children how to design an iPad stand, learn what makes a structure strong, what are strong ‘shapes’, how to keep an item balanced etc etc etc – but the ability to create their design in 3D AND then print it makes the learning so much more obtainable and relevant/real.”
“A simple 3D modelling program for the early years that is easy for students to use on the IPads.”
“I would like to let you know that I am loving my experience with the app at many levels: students experience, teaching and assessing. This term I work with 10 classes so around 270 students. It was very easy to create classes and it is easy to track my students work.”
“The product itself combined with the resources and management environment makes it an all in one solution irrespective of your experience or resources.”
“I have been delighted with the ongoing support that Luke and the Makers Empire team has provided to me and my site. Luke has been very responsive to my questions and queries and was successfully able to repair our printer. He kept me fully informed about the printer and the time line required to fix it… A wonderful engaging program, fantastic training, and outstanding ongoing support makes Makers Empire so successful!”
“…we looked extensively for a software program that was inclusive of all learning styles. The 3D design & printing app is brilliant in the way it allows students to start at a level that’s suited to previous learning and nurtures their journey forward. The developed lesson plans can be delivered explicitly to the class or used as individual tutorials and we feel confident in the notion that we are addressing the ACARA performance standards.”
“The kids just fly…The software makes it easy – if the software was more difficult it wouldn’t work as well. It’s at the right level for the reception students but it’s also not too easy for the upper primary kids. It’s a good start-off point… My class will go into another class — junior primary, middle primary or upper primary — and will partner one on one with the other students and help them learn how to use the software… My kids love helping the other students… Just to see the students faces light up during lessons is so good.”
“Having a blast with it, thanks! (Makers Empire) is all the rage at school at the moment.”
“I’ve been astounded at how much the students using (Makers Empire) have developed over the last 18 months. The kinds of design they’re doing now are very sophisticated. I give them a design brief and the extent to which they take it always surprises me. Using (Makers Empire) has really accelerated their learning.”
“The teacher resources were comprehensive and supported the easy implementation of the lesson. The Makers Empire 3D design app made sophisticated designing available and accessible to young students. They were totally engaged as they designed their very own 3D Hungry Caterpillar.”
“It was an absolute delight to have you work with my Foundation (5 year old) students. They’re still talking about the experience! … What you presented to the children was fantastic! Thank you for presenting an age appropriate and engaging lesson. The lesson was scaffolded to suit the needs of Foundation students and the students felt so proud to have independently designed their own dinosaur and key ring.”
“The Kids in Space Makers Empire Project allowed our children to collaborate whilst working in teams. It encouraged them to test, problem solve, and retest and as a result built children’s resilience.”
“Makers Empire… (has) developed a range of learning resources for parents and teachers that you can use for free. Students and families can also download the Makers Empire app for free at home if your school doesn’t already have a subscription. Using the app encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, design-based thinking and develops spatial reasoning in children. It’s ideal for primary school-aged children. (I have used it with Reception to year 7). YOU DO NOT NEED A 3D PRINTER… It’s more about the thinking and design process – and having fun.”
“I nearly pulled out of the project because a student in my class had recently lost his home in a house fire. After speaking with his parents, I decided to go ahead and I’m so glad that I did. The Challenge Course and the videos were so sensitively and carefully put together that the student felt safe and comfortable with sharing his own experiences. I think being able to be creative and think of ways to help has been empowering for this student in particular as well as the other students in my class. This student now wants to be a firefighter!”
“The ability to integrate Makers Empire into many curriculum areas is a huge benefit.”
“The Makers Empire team came to run a session on 3D printing at our STEM day. It was the most popular session of the day and the students clearly had a fantastic time designing in 3D.”
“Very easy to navigate and use. User friendly.”
“The managed projects are good. The students have enjoyed being involved, loved being able to work independently and have gained a lot of knowledge. The have also created some great designs.”
“…wonderful day. I heard a few teachers talking about this being the best professional learning day they have done in their careers! Great job, we are planning to share with the Governing Council and run a parent information night to follow this up.”
“I liked the way the site is geared toward easy use by teachers and the tutorials help the learner (teacher or student) to be independent and self-driven. The app was easy to download and create accounts in. The multiple entry points available in tasks also differentiates well for teacher. The program engages students with its game-like appearance and improves not only their creativity but critical thinking and collaboration skills. I like the option of having the designs printed off-campus due to time constraints but it is also valuable for students to see the printing process from start to finish. This is an excellent way to create and give back to the community in our Christmas Lights Program. More schools should try it!”
“My year 4 students are doing the Sustainable Communities challenge and loving it. My year 2s are doing the Water Challenge and loving it! Just wanted to pass on thanks from the team and I for your fabulous resources!”
“I honestly haven’t had this big a reaction from our team for any other type of technology I’ve introduced to the school. Getting teachers to step out of their comfort zones and try new tech has been a major struggle in my STEM role… The Makers Empire interest and conversations amongst staff and students have been spreading from there. The classes who got up and running early even had the benefit of being able to assign home learning tasks during the lockdown. One of the classes I helped set up today is our special needs class. I’m often told, “Our kids can’t do that,” so I can’t wait to hear the feedback from that group in particular. I cannot thank you enough for helping me move the needle with Makers Empire and STEM in general. I’m hopeful that it will help me to continue to gain interest from colleagues with other types of new learning technologies.”
“I think it is great because it integrates so many curriculum areas that we have to do in a busy classroom. You have got your maths, science, you can do literacy, then you have also got your digital technology and design technology, and art as well… We are in an ever-changing world and we all have to keep up.”
