In what ways is 3D design and printing beneficial to student learning? Based on what teachers from around the globe are saying, working with 3D:
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Your students have something to say about the direction their education is taking. Believe it – more students are taking an active role in crafting the direction of their training opportunities. Your students want to tell you a few things about the curriculum you choose. In this fast-paced, high-tech, consumer-driven world, students want to know that what they are learning today will be relevant in the real world. They also care about HOW they learn, and how you could make it better for them. (Here’s a hint: they prefer simulators in most situations!) Here are the top six things they have to say: “We learn just as effectively on a simulator as we do on the real thing.” Many educators worry that simulators aren’t life-like, and won’t provide adequate training for real situations. However, simulators have taken a page from the gaming industry and have built better graphics into modern-day simulators, making the simulations more true and engaging than ever before. Need proof? Check out the simulation on SimLog’s Forklift series here. “We need your feedback more than ever.” Whether you are using a welding simulator, a heavy equipment simulator, or something to teach pneumatics, simulation can play a key role in the education process. As an educator, you can identify specific opportunities for improvement at the spot where the student missed the target. Often, you can download a record of the simulation and coach directly to a student’s need. “We will be more engaged with the use of technology.” Integrating technology into the classroom drives engagement. Students today have grown up with laptops, smart phones, and mobile devices. They learn through the use of technology – classrooms are adapting to suit the way students learn benefits the student’s final outcomes. “The same tool can be used with multiple students.” Every educator is looking for a cost-effective way to replicate the same education from student to student. Furnishing each student with one-and-done supplies gets costly, and takes up storage space that a lot of schools don’t have. Tools like zSpace and CyberScience allow you to replicate the same dissection for multiple students – without sourcing dissection materials for each student. “We still get the hands on experience.” Many schools are afraid that the hands on experience will be lost with simulation software. However, the opposite is the case – when a school uses simulation software to teach the fundamentals, they can provide a much more meaningful experience for students who pursue advanced coursework. “We get it – budgets are tight.” Simulators are cost-effective – meaning that they can produce results with a much price tag. Students pursuing a variety of subject matters, though, can benefit from cost-effective simulation. From science to heavy machinery, there are simulators appropriate for the inquiring student, and can positively affect student outcomes. Simulators provide a more cost-effective, more sustainable alternative to the old methods. Ready to investigate? Check out Moss' cost-effective simulation options: Have you used simulation in your classroom? Tell us about it in the comments section!
Your principal supports STEM education, and bought you a 3D printer for your classroom. You know 3D printing is being used everywhere from manufacturing to dentistry, biology to hobbyists, gaming to television… and this is the tip of the ice berg. You are excited about the possibilities, but aren’t sure exactly where this fits into your classroom. Don’t worry – we’re here to help! If you are looking to incorporate 3D printing into your K-12 classroom, but aren’t sure how to go about it, we have designed quick tips for you. These resources are designed to help you successfully incorporate 3D printing into your classroom. 8 Best Practices for Classroom 3D Printing 1. Perfect for Design and Engineering Class – If you teach a CAD class, a 3D printer is a home run for your classroom. Your students will be able to apply engineering skills in a real and tangible way. 2. 3D Printing Fits in Other Classes Too! – Have you thought about the ways you could use 3D printing in math class? How about Geography, History or Art? This article by 3DPrint.com explores the ways 3D printing can be utilized in ways you may not have considered. 3. Design, Design, Design – Design programs range in power and capability. Tools like Google SketchUp and Design 1-2-3 are free programs that help you create .STL files. There are also cost-effective programs like Solidworks, an industry-recognized program that provides special educator discounts; and Maker’s Empire which is an elementary specific design program. Need help choosing the right program for the grade level you are teaching? Moss Education Specialists are available to assist. 4. Borrow Existing Designs – Resources are available from websites like Thingiverse, which has thousands of open source .STL files appropriate for your classroom. 5. Technology for All Grade Levels – 3D printing technology is appropriate for every grade level, but students at different ages approach the technology differently. Elementary students look at the fun of seeing their designs come to life, where high school students think more critically about their designs and use 3D prints as part of the design and engineering process. Same technology with age appropriate applications and reactions. 6. Hands on Skills – 3D printing helps students develop critical thinking skills as they design, print and test. 7. Curriculum is available – Structured curriculum is often the key to success. Moss partners with Pitsco Education and Maker’s Empire to provide structured curriculum designed for K-12 education. When you purchase an Afinia printer through Moss, you are also eligible to receive a copy of 3DVinci. 8. Communities are Available – From LinkedIn to Facebook, there are groups available to help you collaborate. We've linked to some of our favorite groups that spark creativity, and promote conversation. Need more tips to get you started? Download this eBook from Afinia, which shares success stories from educators from across the nation, teaching at all levels. Have you incorporated 3D printing in your classroom? Tell us your story in the comments section. The U.S. Department of Education reports PD can enhance student performance by as much as 21 percentile points. Not all Professional Development is created equal – PD is designed to address specific classroom needs, as well as specific educational content. How can you be sure that the PD is appropriate, and will achieve the end result (driving student performance)? We have a few keys to keep in mind when choosing or designing PD. Professional Development – Types Matter: · Content Delivery – Options range from online to hands-on (and everything in between). For a successful PD session, blend pedagogy and hands-on applications so educators can build their confidence in delivering content to their students. Teachers will develop confidence for the content they will be leading their students through in classroom settings. · Professional Workshops – who delivers the content in your district PD sessions? Bringing in a content or curriculum professional can help teachers make connections they might not otherwise make. If you are looking for ideas (without the sales pitch) check out Pitsco’s STEM PD. · Product Workshops – when you bring new tools into the classroom, learning the ins and outs of the tool is key. But Professional Development should take it one step further and introduce best practices that will ultimately improve the student experience. This is why so many of our partners (including zSpace) offer ongoing staff development specific to their education solution. · Make Time – don’t expect to cover every topic in one session. Successful PD happens over multiple sessions when teachers can absorb, implement and ask thoughtful questions. Resources There are countless resources available when it comes to Professional Development. Edutopia shared a great piece titled How Strong is Your PD Kung Fu? that shared tips for finding PD for new teachers. What are your go-to tips for successful PD? Need help getting started? Moss offers Professional Development Opportunities from our partners, experts in curriculum delivery. Opportunities range from on-site consultation and classes to workshops to webinars and seminars. We can help you find the right fit. Could your classroom use a financial boost? Are you looking for funds to add a new tool to your classroom? Does your school or your classroom need extra financial backing to go from “good” to “great”? You’re definitely not alone! The best classroom tools are out of reach for many schools without the means to pay for them. We’ve scoured the internet for best grant and funding websites and came up with a list of grant programs designed exclusively for educators. The following are our favorite grant resources: 8 Grant and Funding Resources for your Classroom* 1. The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources – Edutopia created this roundup of educational grants, contests, awards, free toolkits, and classroom guides aimed at helping students, classrooms, schools, and communities. The list is updated weekly, so check back often! 2. Grants.gov – this website has a searchable list of grant opportunities. Users can filter the search criteria to find grants right for their school or project. Simply click on the “Search Grants” tab at the top of the page to get started. 3. GrantsAlert.com – this website is designed specifically to connect educators with available grant money. Users can search geographically, by types of grants, and the date added. The website also connects users with professional grant writers that can assist with the applications. 4. The NEA Foundation – the NEA Foundation’s goal is to strengthen teaching and learning opportunities. In addition to sharing best practices with educators, they provide links to funding opportunities on both a state and national level. 5. Grants for Teachers – this website arranges grant opportunities by subject matter, from Professional Development grants to STEM grants, Classroom Enrichment and Student Achievement. 6. Teachers Count – this website arranges grant opportunities by subject matter. If you are looking for subject-specific grant information, this is a great resource. Technology-Specific Grants 7. Classroom Technology Grants – this is a list 7 ways to secure technology funds for your classroom. Career and Technical Education Grants 8. CTE Funding – the Association for Career and Technical Education has a list of CTE-specific funds for schools looking to bolster technical education programs. This list is the tip of the iceberg – there are thousands of grant and funding opportunities, from local, statewide and national sources. The funds are there -- be creative when searching for funding opportunities. We’d like to hear from you: Do you have any sure-fire grant writing tips? Leave them in the comments, below! *These are grant and funding opportunities, and by no means a guarantee of funding award. STEM classrooms are different – not only in coursework, but in educational outcomes. These classrooms rely less on memorization and more on critical thinking skills. When you visit a STEM classroom it just feels different – more alive, more energized, more like what you would expect. Five Key Components of a Successful STEM Classroom: Engaged Students – when students are engaged, they exhibit a higher level of critical thinking and content is not only memorized, but mastered. Timothy Huneycutt suggests in the National Math + Science Initiative Blog that creating a classroom where students are independently thinking in the classroom is the key to long term success. Project Based Learning – For many students, doing is the key to understanding AND retaining the information. Solid curriculum incorporates all learning styles (visual, auditory and kinesthetic) to address the learning styles of all students. Age Appropriate Curriculum – the building blocks of scientific inquiry are built in elementary classes, and build in middle school, though high school and post-secondary education. The right curriculum challenges students at every level, adding to previously mastered topics. Need an example? Pitsco Education has developed age appropriate curriculum for every age level. Career Focused – it’s never too early to start incorporating the real-world into the classroom. Real world applications will create connections for the student; they will never again need to ask “when will I ever use this in the REAL WORLD?” because every lesson will reinforce that (and make the lesson more tangible to the student). Flexible – high performance STEM classrooms all have classrooms that are designed for discovery and facilitate the lessons. Furniture becomes part of the teaching tool kit. Desks are mobile, table tops double as white boards for doodling and notes. Interior Concepts provides photos of the most popular room designs in this slide deck. What works well in your classroom? What tools and ideas are you excited to incorporate? |
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