3D Printing — Technology Capable of Shaping the Modern Education
Building a part or functional prototype from a digital file is a process of manufacturing that is named 3D printing. In this process, manufacturing a part or functional prototype is seen uniquely as compared to the traditional manufacturing process which was mainly based on subtractive manufacturing technique. Herein, parts or functional prototypes are manufactured layer by layer using the concept of additive manufacturing. The shift from traditional manufacturing to modern manufacturing has had a great impact on the education system. Previous manufacturing systems were riskier and hence, students were not allowed to get their hands on practically operating the machine until a certain age. Educators are completely attentive when it comes to 3D printing and incorporating them in a classroom.
This technology allows students to learn exactly how work happens in the world outside their schools or institutions i.e. project-based. And how; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics combine to form a part or functional prototype for application. Instead of seeing them as four separate subjects and then realizing the interaction between them, they are able to adapt to a more integrated view. A simple example to understand how 3D printing helps in a classroom of biology is, rather than reading a theory about the parts of human organs, they can create lungs, heart, bones, so on and so forth by creating models of the same.
Assimilation of other knowledge by learning 3D printing
Apart from getting to know the theory part written down in textbooks, speedier using 3D printing technology, students are exposed to the idea of experimentation, success, and failure. They learn how to follow their natural selection and how it is fine to fail. In combination with this, they learn creativity and how to not ignore any idea that comes to them, thinking it is silly. The complete process of 3D printing a part or functional prototype is confidence instilling. Lessons like this could never have been learned by them with the traditional manufacturing technologies where they are exposed to real manufacturing after their adolescence at least.
3D printing technology will make students learn patience as well as learning from their mistakes. When, after waiting for hours, they would not be able to get the part or functional prototype right, they would be forced to go back and check for a mistake in their design. Their mind would take them to areas in the design where layering is not how they wanted it to be. Complex parts or functional prototypes that demand intricacies would impart difficult lessons to the students and teachers to learn about more and more new concepts to enhance their learning.
To start, one can look for resources online to understand what additive manufacturing is capable to unveil. For instance, Pick 3D Printer offers a huge database of reviews, guides, comparisons and various guides on 3D printers and their working. Who knows you can find out your interest in 3D printing?
The Conclusion
Opposed to conventional classrooms where learning was limited to books and experimentation was completely out of scope, 3D printing would bring experimentation right on their desks. And hence they would be able to fact check their ideas of experimentation and see whether they are worth or not, with a speed that is unprecedented in the field of manufacturing technology and safe for the hands of students.
