PrintLab Introduces New Online 3D Printing Learning Portal for Teachers

PrintLab never stops moving forward in its mission to bring 3D printing to schools and others who can benefit from learning the technology. The platform is made up of a community of experts in 20 countries, dedicated to supporting 3D printing in education, whether that be in school 3D printing labs or among groups of disadvantaged women.  PrintLab not only offers resources to students but teachers as well – after all, if teachers aren’t equipped with knowledge of 3D printing technology, students won’t be able to learn to their full potential. This week, PrintLab released a new resource for teachers – a creative online lesson portal called PrintLab Classroom.

PrintLab Classroom helps teachers integrate 3D printing into subjects such as science, technology, engineering, arts, math, computing, geography, history, languages and more. Teachers who enroll with the program will have access to 12 creative projects, with two new lessons being added to the portal every month. Each lesson comes with everything the teacher needs to prepare and teach it, such as information including subject areas and learning criteria; downloadable presentations and student workbooks; step-by-step lesson preparation and delivery information; and teacher training and lesson practice video tutorials.

Lessons include:

• Make a 3D Contour Model
• Make Your School Name in Braille
• An Introduction to 3D Printing
• Make Classroom Objects
• Design Your Own Watchtower
• Design Your Own Whistle
• Make an Ergonomic Pen
• Make a 3D Population Graph
• An Introduction to 3D Modeling
• Design a Personalized Chopsticks Holder
• 3D Printing Chemical Structures
• Balloon Powered Dragster

“Additive manufacturing is exponentially growing and is a vital tool across a range of industries,” said Jason Yeung, Co-Founder of PrintLab. “This means we must prepare the next generation for their future careers by addressing the widening skills gap. After a great deal of research with teachers around the world, we found that within 3D printing curriculum, there is a distinct need for teacher training and content that is applicable to core subject areas. Teachers require an easy to use, engaging solution which makes their challenge of inspiring young people possible. PrintLab Classroom achieves this by providing a simple and comprehensive lesson package, developed alongside teachers and with an ever-expanding number of lessons.”

Many children are being raised on 3D printing, with the technology being entrenched in their education from a young age. Teachers are left with the unfortunate task of trying to catch up, so it’s vital that programs like PrintLab reach out to them as well as students in terms of providing comprehensive 3D printing education. It’s critically important that children are educated in 3D printing from the very beginning of their schooling, so that by the time they graduate and enter the work force they possess the expertise they’ll likely need in their careers. For that kind of education, they’ll need teachers who are well-informed and well-prepared, and PrintLab intends to help create those.

Enrolling in the course costs $199, but teachers can sign up for a free lesson plan – and a chance to win an EinStart-C 3D printer – here. A winner will be chosen on February 12th.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. 

[Images courtesy of PrintLab]