Much like the Laser Cutter Requirements Sheet, my students use the attached Requirement Sheet to earn the 3D Printer Skill Badge. My objective on the requirements sheet is to have the students familiar enough with the software and device that they can operate it independently. Especially with the 3D printer, it is important that they know when it is operating correctly and how to troubleshoot when something is going wrong. I was not interested in teaching them maintenance on the machine, or require them to build their own so by all means, feel free to modify the sheet to fit your needs.
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I like the thinking behind these. One of my biggest concerns about these badges is that they lacked the kind of requirements behind them that Boy Scout and Girl Scout merit badges have. By developing these types of Requirement Sheets, students know that they have achieved something, and every student that earns one (from you) knows that all of the other students that have earned one have demonstrated the same skills.
@miker, we think the future may be more peer-to-peer (as opposed to one giant organization managing “badges”) and for awarding symbolic badges like “3d printing” it will based on: location, the educator, the student, the task, the type of 3d printing for example…
since these badges are not in any official way certifications there’s more flexibility and freedom for the educators (and the students).
however, we’re sure there might be some folks who want strict guidelines and that’s fine too 🙂
I’m glad to see this example shared, but I agree that the requirements should be customized to the individual. One obvious flaw with a single universal set of requirements is that lots of these skills aren’t stricly binary; it’s not really true that one either knows a given technology or doesn’t. Knowledge comes in degrees, a continuum of mastery. A cross between scouting merit badges and martial arts belts might work; picture skill badges sewn onto backings of different materials, with the specific backing indicating the degree of mastery, and those backings being sewn onto a sash. “I have a silver badge in soldering!”
I like the thinking behind these. One of my biggest concerns about these badges is that they lacked the kind of requirements behind them that Boy Scout and Girl Scout merit badges have. By developing these types of Requirement Sheets, students know that they have achieved something, and every student that earns one (from you) knows that all of the other students that have earned one have demonstrated the same skills.
@miker, we think the future may be more peer-to-peer (as opposed to one giant organization managing “badges”) and for awarding symbolic badges like “3d printing” it will based on: location, the educator, the student, the task, the type of 3d printing for example…
since these badges are not in any official way certifications there’s more flexibility and freedom for the educators (and the students).
however, we’re sure there might be some folks who want strict guidelines and that’s fine too 🙂
I’m glad to see this example shared, but I agree that the requirements should be customized to the individual. One obvious flaw with a single universal set of requirements is that lots of these skills aren’t stricly binary; it’s not really true that one either knows a given technology or doesn’t. Knowledge comes in degrees, a continuum of mastery. A cross between scouting merit badges and martial arts belts might work; picture skill badges sewn onto backings of different materials, with the specific backing indicating the degree of mastery, and those backings being sewn onto a sash. “I have a silver badge in soldering!”