The
applications and use cases of 3D printing technologies vary across
industries. Enterprises from various industries these days use different
3D printing technologies - fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), and stereolithography
(SLA) – to facilitate rapid prototyping and producing fully functional
parts. At the same time, the number of educational institutions
investing in various 3D printers has been increasing consistently. Also,
many companies have been designing and customizing 3D printers for
various educational institutions.
According to a market forecast and analysis report released by Technavio,
“The 3D printing market size in the education sector has the potential
to grow by USD 687.56 million during 2021-2025, and the market’s growth
momentum will accelerate during the forecast period.”
The industry forecast report depicts the huge benefits of 3D printers for schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. Many schools already leverage 3D printing technologies to modernize and transform their learning environments. Also, teachers and educators have been creating new use cases 3D printers for education consistently by making students acquiring skills for the future. If your school is yet to purchase a 3D printer, it is time for you to understand some of the important benefits of 3D printers for schools.
Understanding 9 Important Benefits of 3D printers for Schools
1. Set up Visual Learning Environments
Many educational institutions already leverage 3D printing technologies to transform and modernize conventional learning environments. They provide teachers and students with access to 3D printers to set up a visual learning environment. In the visual learning environment, students do not acquire knowledge simply only by listening to teachers or reading books. In addition to interacting with teachers, they can visualize the concepts and ideas by producing three-dimensional objects in the classroom environment. The visual learning environment will help schools to keep the curriculum relevant in the longer run.
2. Implement STEAM Education
Many schools these days provide future-proof learning by implementing the STEAM education approach. Unlike conventional learning approaches, STEAM emphasizes integrating areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Many schools already use 3D printing as a classroom technology to implement STEAM education. They allow students to become creators and designers using knowledge and unleashing creativity simultaneously. Also, access to 3D printers enables students to shape their ideas and imaginations physically.
3. Foster Innovation and Invention
Several
studies recommend schools to encourage students to become creators and
innovators. In addition to focusing on making students acquire and
retain knowledge, schools these days focus extensively on fostering
creativity and innovation. 3D printers help schools to create
opportunities for students to create objects and solutions using their
creativity and imagination. Educators can encourage and motivate
students to become creators and inventors by providing access to 3D
printers for school.
4. Boost Student Engagement
Educators these days explore ways to keep students engaged and interested in both conventional and virtual classrooms. 3D printing technologies make it easier for teachers to make the learning experience both different and exciting. Teachers can 3D-print objects to make students understand complex concepts and theories clearly and differently. The change in approach helps schools to convert reluctant learners into active learners.
5. Deliver Hands-on Learning
In the age of digital communications, schools have to emphasize delivering hands-on learning. The 3D printers for schools help teachers to create opportunities for students to acquire knowledge through action and experience. In addition to explaining concepts, they can make students observe and inspect the concepts in solid three-dimensional form.
6. Prepare Students to Solve Real-World Problems
Many people these days use 3D printers to produce home decors, household accessories, and functional repair items. Also, 3D printing technologies encourage many people to solve simple real-world problems by producing various items and objects. In addition to delivering hands-on training, schools can prepare and encourage students to solve a variety of real-world problems by providing access to 3D printers. There are many instances when school children solved in their communities using 3D printers.
7. Facilitate Collaboration and Camaraderie
3D printing or additive manufacturing is a multistep process. An individual student cannot produce a variety of objects or items without collaborating and networking with others. Hence, schools can use 3D printing technologies as classroom technology to make students acquire important and useful soft skills like communication, collaboration, cooperation, and team spirit. Many students these days become part of online communities to learn how to use 3D printers more effectively and how to choose the right 3D printing material.
8. Foster Critical Thinking and Design Thinking
Every school can prepare students to become entrepreneurs and innovators by focusing on the development of critical thinking and design thinking. Access to 3D printers helps students to visualize their ideas and unleash their creativity. The teachers can make students think critically and hone problem-solving skills by assigning projects. Also, they can motivate students to solve a variety of real-time problems by thinking like designers and innovators. Many teachers these days create new use cases to make 3D printing technologies complement and extend the preset curriculum perfectly.
9. Encourage Students to Pursue STEM Degrees
According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, “About half of adults (52%) say the main reason young people don’t pursue STEM degrees is they think these subjects are too hard.” As mentioned earlier, 3D printers help schools to make STEM education easier for students by integrating conventional and hands-on learning. The students can use 3D printers to understand complex concepts and theories. The hands-on learning will help and motivate students to pursue STEM degrees in the future.
Aurum3D
helps schools to leverage 3D printing technologies in two distinct ways
– launching affordable 3D printers and providing 3D printing services.
The 3D printing services
help educational institutions to produce three-dimensional items from
digital models without investing in a 3D printer. At the same time, the
3D printer launched by Aurum3D helps schools to convert 3D printing
technology into one of the commonly used classroom technologies.
Keywords: Benefits of 3D printers, 3D printers for school, 3D printers for education
References
https://www.makersempire.com/7-benefits-of-using-3d-printing-technology-in-education/
https://digilab.dremel.com/blog/five-benefits-using-3d-printers-education
https://www.makerbot.com/stories/3d-printing-education/5-benefits-of-3d-printing/
No comments:
Post a Comment