Zhejiang is an idyllic province in Eastern China along the East China Sea that boasts water towns and beautifully restored historic districts. However, it’s not all about rural beauty or preserved history, the capital city Hangzhou boasts a population of 8.7 million and a vibrant arts and education scene. It’s also the location of a brand new 3D centered classroom in Hangzhou Zingzhi Middle School, thanks to Shining 3D, a local high-tech enterprise specializing in providing 3D digitizing and printing solutions.
“Everyone on the scene was quite interested in reversal design and exclaimed ‘banana’ when the full color banana scanning model turned up. This 3D curriculum shows how desktop level 3D scanner and 3D printers inspire student creativity.”
No mention is made as to whether or not other fruits caused the same level of excitement.
These types of 3D printing labs are popping up in schools all over the world, with China making a particularly strong push to integrate the technology into its educational curriculum. The question still remains as to whether China’s traditional manufacturing economy, based on its humanpower prowess, can be realigned to fully take advantage of the creative and individualized opportunities that make 3D printing more than just another fancy tool. However, even if the industry isn’t the revolution within China that it has been in some other places, educating its students to fluency with the technology prepares them to go out into a world increasingly dependent on 3D design and creation.
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