Construct3D 2018

Teaching 3d design through the creation of functional objects intended for a specific purpose is  a both an effective and engaging means to give students the tools and knowledge to practically use their 3d design skills.  But that approach can be lost on a younger audience who certainly have the skills to design relatively complex models but may lack the focus to make something functional considering many functional objects just aren’t that exciting to them.  After trying different approaches to solve this gap wearable 3d printed objects have risen to the top as the most successful way to engage K-6th grade students in creating designs for an explicit purpose.  I’ll be sharing what my team has learned and the outcomes we’ve had exploring this approach to teaching design for 3d printing.