![]() How well do you know the Engineering Design Process (EDP)? How well do your students know it? If you answered “not at all” to either of those questions, think again. You likely follow some of the steps in your everyday activities. The focus of the EDP is problem solving. I’m sure you’ve problem solved already today. Deciding what to wear, which errands to complete, and where to eat are examples of everyday situations where you subconsciously use the EDP. Let’s review the steps to see if you agree.
The Engineering Design Process is something we use more often than we realize. However, many kids today do not have this same skill set and often lack problem-solving skills. So, let’s look at how a Pitsco Maker Space Project can be used to teach the EDP. The KaZoon Kite Maker Project spans all three of our leveled makerspace packages.
Blog re-printed from Pitsco Education Community Blog. Content written by Kristina Davis, Education Program Designer.
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![]() If you have been in the market for a large-platform 3D printer, we have exciting news! Moss now partners with 3D Platform, a leading manufacturer of large-scale, industrial-class 3D printers. 3DP’s flagship 3D printer, the 3DP1000, offers a large build area of 1 meter x 1 meter x 0.5 meter. (To put this in perspective, this is more than 70 times the size of the average desktop 3D printer!) 3D Platform is committed to building on industrial strength linear motion components, actuators, and motors while maintaining affordable flexibility with open market software and control solutions. They offer helpful How-To training, videos, and FAQ on their website. Learn more - contact Moss today to learn about the most reliable, large format 3D printer in its class:
![]() Universal Laser Systems is known for quality, versatility and reliability. Investing in a premier, cutting edge laser cutting and engraving system is only half the battle - maintaining is a necessary component to ensure your laser is able to provide optimal performance. A robust maintenance program is a huge step toward that objective. Rest assured - maintenance doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. Our partners at Universal Laser Systems has set out to provide a DIY guide to maintaning your laser's performance with a series of tips and suggestions written by their expert support team to help you keep your laser system in tip-top shape. Since fine-tuning is often the key to obtaining the best quality, we want to be sure you have a mixture of the most up-to-date information and fine-tuning suggestions cultivated by our team through collective years of experience. Check out the first installment in this series, which pertains to maintaining optics. Have a question for the ULS service team? Send them to Moss and you may be featured in an upcoming edition! Afinia is always looking to improve the user experience for educators, which is why they asked for your feedback, and incorporated your suggestions into the new and improved H800+. The updated 3D printer includes:
Award-Winning InnovationThe Afinia H800+ 3D printer won the RAPID 2015 Exhibitor Innovation Award, which recognizes the most innovative new products or services exhibited at RAPID that are judged to have the greatest potential impact on the industry. Afinia 3D was selected as the recipient by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME) Rapid Technologies & Additive Manufacturing (RTAM) Committee. TechZone 360 also chose the Afinia H800+ 3D Printer for their 2015 3D Printing Excellence Award, citing Afinia 3D as a leader within the 3D printing industry. The TechZone 360 3D Printing Excellence Award identifies products, services, and applications that are driving the growth and evolution of 3D Printing from niche market hype to mainstream reality. Learn More This printer boasts the largest print surface for large-format designs, and superior print resolution to similar 3D printers on the market. Download an updated spec sheet, or contact Moss for more information. Weigh in: will these improvements make a difference in your classroom? How will you incorporate this updated technology? ![]() An avid fan of STEM, makerspaces, and project-based learning, Aaron Maurer shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a district level leader and champion for STEM Education. In this presentation, Aaron offers the audience tips and tricks, funding ideas, and potential pitfalls to look out for when creating your own STEM program. Aaron has been in education for more than a decade teaching a variety of subjects and grade levels. Currently, he is an instructional coach for Bettendorf Middle School and mentors three robotics teams. Aaron recently launched a new engineering program called Young Engineers of Today and is a member of the Microsoft Innovator Educator Expert program. He was a finalist for the Iowa Teacher of the Year in 2014. You can find all of his work on his website, http://www.coffeeforthebrain.com/. Watch the recorded webinar (above) and let us know what you think! Whether you are building a Makerspace of Fab Lab, you have undoubtedly considered a CNC Router. CNC technology is a key component of fabrication, but the technology is as diverse as the applications. CNC equipment is designed to route, carve, drill, and engrave in wood, plastic, foam, aluminum and other materials for a wide range of applications.
CNC routers, plasma cutters and laser equipment make it easy and exciting for educators to prepare students for the technical manufacturing jobs of tomorrow. Students understand modern manufacturing challenges, turning design concepts into reality on industry standard equipment. Choosing a CNC Router When choosing a CNC Router, consider the following components:
At Moss, we represent Techno CNC Systems, FANUC, and ez Router – we can provide options based on your program goals and budget considerations. Let us help you develop your FabLab or Makerspace. Tell us – what is the single biggest consideration you have when looking at CNC Routers? Are you looking for ideas on how to integrate 3D printing into your existing STEM curriculum? You're not alone! Project-based learning and 3D printing are pivotal avenues for teaching STEM subjects, engaging students on new levels, and preparing them for future careers. Afinia offers several 3D Printing STEM Kits, which support project-based learning in the classroom.
Each pack comes with student workbooks and a teacher’s guide to help you seamlessly integrate the projects into your curriculum. Available STEM Kits include:
Integrating 3D printing into existing STEM programs is easy with these project-based units. Learn more - download this informational file today, or contact your Education Specialist for more information. We hear a lot about how important it is for today’s students to develop 21st century skills, in addition to ‘the basics.' The 4 C's (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity) are often described as the ‘new basics.’ Learn how 3D design and printing can help students develop these vital new basics on Makers Empire's blog.
We want to hear from you -- do you use 3D printing in your classroom? How is it helping you teach the 4 C's of Education? ![]() Consider this student: Abby is an agriculture student who was raised on a family farm. She sees her dad struggle with the same piece of equipment year after year. She thinks she has a simple solution. Her school has a Makerspace, and she has printed a part in 3D that she thinks will solve the problem. She has talked with her instructor about sharing the same design to other local farmers that have the same issue as her dad. Is Abby ready for an Entrepreneurship course? Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. While Abby is looking for a simple solution to a recurring problem, and is looking to share her solution with others. She has the shades of being a developing Entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship coursework used to live in the Business departments almost exclusively. As we deepen our understanding about how entrepreneurs views obstacles, assess risk, develop solutions, innovate and solve problems, we are beginning to realize that Entrepreneurship coursework can benefit not only business students, but also agriculture students, engineering students, design students… In short, anyone who innovates and problem solves could benefit from the framework laid out in Entrepreneurship coursework. Entrepreneurship coursework is designed to provide:
Many schools are looking to develop entrepreneurship coursework. We can help schools connect the dots with smart tools from Pitsco Education (STEM framework) and Startup Genius (Entrepreneurship). Tell us: what are you looking for in an Entrepreneurship program? ![]() Our Troubled World Requires a Skilled STEM Workforce Elements of STEM are integral to our nation’s economy – from health care to infrastructure needs, energy, and the environment. That’s why one of the most important tasks we have as educators is to encourage our students to consider careers in STEM. To get them to that point, they need to develop the ability to question and plan ways through experimentation to find viable solutions. Do I Have a Dynamite Class Lesson? Have you ever asked yourself, “Do I have a class lesson that I could sell tickets for?” In other words, a lesson that students will absorb and remember, and that will leave them excited to take the next step? A lesson that does that probably includes more than just abstract theory or memorization of concepts. It probably also challenges the students with “out-of-the-box” thinking (aka critical thinking) through self or team experimentation – which is a lot more interesting and engaging than listening to a teacher lecture or demonstrate a science concept. As long as students are learning, you can use any means possible to turn on the “light bulb.” There is no more important gift than teaching students how science works through application and experimentation. Continue Reading... Blog adapted from Boxlight blog, with our partnership. Check out their full suit of solutions here.
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