3D Pedagogy

I recently wrote a blogpost entitled 'Maker Pedagogy' where I outlined some of the emerging educational benefits of learning through making. The rise in popularity of FabLabs (Fabrication laboratories) and Makerspaces has highlighted the positive aspects of learning through the process of designing, fixing, mending, problem solving, using tools, repurposing and creating new objects. The advent of 3D Printing (also known as additive manufacturing) has brought maker pedagogy opportunities to schools and other educational institutions in a fairly affordable manner. Many teachers may still baulk at considering using such tools in the classroom, just as many did when iPads and other seemingly exotic technologies were introduced. Yet, the only real barrier once the cost has been met, is how teachers will actually use such technology to support, enhance, enrich or otherwise extend learning. Although still in its infancy, it is already clear that 3D printing is having an impact on the motivation and engagement of students.

Today I heard one story of a disaffected student that was particularly heart warming. Connor was seen by his teachers as a low achiever, a boy who was simply disengaged from learning. Then one day he saw a 3D printer being demonstrated in his classroom during a technology lesson. He went home that evening feeling quite excited. That night as he lay on his bed, he saw that the handle on his bedroom door had been broken. He took the handle in to school the next day, and asked his teacher to help him 3D print a replacement. This minor success spurred him on to do better in school. He became increasingly more engaged, because he now realised that every subject - not just technology - might also offer him ideas that he could take and use anywhere, outside the school walls.

So how will 3D printing contribute to the development of pedagogy? Will it have an impact on lessons? What will it do to inspire students to learn? If you are using 3D printers in lessons, or know of anyone who is, please let us know how you are incorporating this technology into your teaching, what you see as its benefits, and what you think are the limitations. Please also let us know how you think it is impacting upon students' learning, and whether it is influencing your own professional practice in any way. Thank you!

(NB: The story of Connor comes courtesy of Paul Croft, director of Create Education).

Photo by Steve Wheeler


3D pedagogy by Steve Wheeler was written in Glasgow, Scotland and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.