When I first embarked on my 3D printer project, I could not have anticipated the
impact that it would have on my students. While I am determined to understand
and meet the unique needs of every single one of my students, I have taken a
special interest in the needs and abilities of High Ability students. While the needs
of High Ability students can oftentimes be lost in the shuffle in a busy school
setting, High Ability students require enrichment and extension in the same way
that struggling students require extra support and interventions.
When I gave my sixth grade class the Pre-Test for Unit 1 in Math, four of my
students made above a 90%. Because the skills and processes for this Unit had
already been mastered by these four students, I decided to extend their learning
with a special design challenge. I challenged my students to design a Math-based
board game that included topics from Unit One (Multiplication, Division,
Fractions, Decimals). My students were also challenged to design and create their
own cardholder and use the 3D printer to create the game pieces. The board game
would review the skills, strategies, and processes from Unit One so that the other
students in the classroom could practice what they are learning in a fun, game-
based way.
The 3D printer project addresses the following standard MS-ETS1-1: Engineering
Design: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient
precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific
principals and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that
may limit possible solutions. One of the reasons that I decided to include the
printer in my classroom is because sixth grade students are tested in science, but
science is not included in the main curriculum. I saw the 3D printer as an
opportunity to introduce concepts of design and engineering to my students in an
engaging, hands-on way.
In the future, I plan to introduce a special design challenge to my students. I will
challenge my students to design an invention that will make the world a better
place. Whenever I was doing the initial research and planning for this project, I
discovered another teacher who had conducted a similar project in her classroom.
One of this teacher’s students designed and printed a tool that would allow his
disabled grandfather to grip and open a can independently.
I discussed this student’s invention with my sixth graders. We have been brainstorming inventions that they might design and print to help their friends, family, and the community at large. My students will be using the Tinker CAD platform in order to virtually build their ideas. We will then print their designs using the 3D printer. I am eager to expand our use of the 3D printer to all of my students. This project will not only introduce my students to principles of design and engineering and increase their competence with technology, but will involve them in a service learning project that will allow them the opportunity to think about how they can help others in our community.