4. Creative Exploration

Students using their ipads in a social studies class

Engaging students in 3D printing and modeling activities to solve a real world problem is just one way to utilize this new technology. Another popular method is to allow students to build, innovate, and design their own creative ideas – this might be a new iPhone case, 3D jewelry to sell at the school fair, a toy for a younger sibling, a new version of a historical monument, a remixed chemical model, or even a tool for solving math problems (e.g., see math spinners).

3D printing allows students to take ideas from their heads and turn them into real world objects. This captivates learners and inspires self-directed learning, perseverance, creative thinking, and 3D modeling skill development.

Learning Objective: In this section, you will create a student-centered learning experience that incorporates 3D printing and modeling along with creative thinking into a design project.