We live in an age when economies are built on innovation and forward-thinking. It is a new dynamic world in which revolutionary and ground-breaking startups are replacing old technologies and businesses.
The common nominator for many successful startups is that a great percentage of their founders have attended STEM education at one point. According to many education experts and economists, STEM is the future of education, and it is the foundation on which the new economies will be built.
The introduction of 3D printing in STEM education is considered a big step in the right direction. It has made STEM education even more effective in its mission. It will educate a workforce of individuals that have sufficient knowledge and analytical mindset to solve complex problems.
3D printing and STEM education are a perfect match that seems to resonate with each other on every level. Both teachers and students are thrilled with the projects that come out of this “happy marriage.”
3D printing projects developed in STEM classes
3D drones
3D Drones for STEM is a popular curriculum that draws a lot of attention as it incorporates a lot of aspects of STEM education. Teachers love it because creating a drone with a 3D printer is interdisciplinary, while students love it because it is as challenging as it is practical and fashionable. So, it is a win-win situation for everyone.
Game controllers
Making drones can be quite exhilarating, but designing game controllers has proven to be evenly motivating for young people. A group of high school students from the Lake Zurich High School in Illinois was given the task to design and built a new prototype.
First, they researched to find out what gamers wanted in a game controller. Then they figure out the parts they needed to make that happen. The parts that couldn’t be bought were designed using a CAD program and then built with a 3D printer.
After that project, the students started building more complex projects. That was the stepping stone on which they formed their school’s first Robotics team.
Study historic technology
Leonardo Da Vinci is responsible for all sorts of innovations, many of which are untested even today. His drawings and blueprints are available to the public and can be re-created with the help of a 3D printer. Of course, they don’t have to be in full size, but big enough so that they can be tested. Leonardo Da Vinci was a genius, and a 3D printer can offer a sneak-peek into his brilliance and ingenuity.
In a nutshell
3D printing for STEM education is the single best solution for creating a modern, forward-thinking, resourceful, and knowledgeable workforce. It is the blueprint of modern education and one that can be fitted in every education system worldwide.
Failing to recognize the significance of 3D printing and STEM education as an integral part of the school system can be a costly mistake. This mistake can influence the economic development of a country as well as the personal development of an entire generation of young people.
