In the Classroom and Beyond, Colleges Find Ample Uses for 3D Printing #MakerEducation
EdTech Magazine checks in on some of the innovative ways 3D Printing is being used in the classroom.
New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) has a long history as a hotbed of creativity, but even seasoned staff like Jana Duda, the technology resources manager at FIT’s Gladys Marcus Library, have been impressed by students’ innovative work in the fledgling 3D printing lab.
The FabLab, as the space is known, was originally created for the institute’s toy design program, which planned to incorporate 3D printing into its curriculum. But since the lab opened a few years ago with two 3D printers and a laser-equipped cutting tool, numerous other departments have found uses for it too.
“We keep adding new printers as we identify student needs,” Duda says. “Now we’re at the point where we could use more room.” At the moment, the lab houses two sections. The first is a full-service production area, where trained staff run print jobs that students submit as digital files. A separate self-service area includes two easy-to-use MakerBot Replicator 2 Fifth Generation 3D printers, a 3D scanner, a Wacom Cintiq drawing tablet and desktop computers. One student recently used the self-service area to print a 3D pattern into a mesh-fabric garment.
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Each Tuesday is EducationTuesday here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts about educators and all things STEM. Adafruit supports our educators and loves to spread the good word about educational STEM innovations!