3D Printing

3D printing is a buzz word in education right now. Teachers are finding uses for these machines in all subject areas. As a library media specialist, I hear 3D printing associated with the Maker Movement in which schools are creating Makerspace time or locations. I feel that I can incorporate a 3D printer into my Makerspace as well. I believe that the way I can teach skills that accompany this type of machine is to collaborate with classroom teachers to apply the 3D printing machine into classroom learning. Students can solve real world problems about what they are studying, and "isn't that exactly what we try to achieve from our students?" Avatar Generation (2017) asks (How 3D Printing Can Really Be Incorporated into Schools).

If you've heard of 3D printing then you may also have heard of its cousin, Rapid Prototyping. Rapid Protoyping is similar to 3D printing because they both "build models layer by layer from STL data" (3Dprinitng.com, Rapid Prototyping and 3D printing, 2012). 3D printers are smaller in nature and can therefore make smaller parts. The materials needed to run the machine are generally much cheaper than the cost of a rapid prototyping machine making it much more cost effective for a school.There are various types of 3D printers available so they are more easily accessible making the total price less expensive; however, there are not near as many materials that can be utilized with the 3D machine so that can limit options. 3D printers typically require little to no training whereas rapid prototyping machines can involve more extensive training. In my opinion, I like to think of 3D printing as something anyone can do, but due to the expense and training required the rapid prototyping is for big businesses. 

http://www.avatargeneration.com/2014/01/how-3d-printing-can-really-be-incorporated-into-schools/
http://3dprinting.com/news/rapid-prototyping-and-3d-printing/