[3D Printing News] Helping students successfully use 3D printing at CHAD
Charter High School is committed to fostering curiosity through innovative courses in Architecture and Design (CHAD). With access to a 3D printer , design teachers...
Christopher Sweeney's goal is to help underresourced students access education in arts, architecture, and design across 48 different fields in Philadelphia.
Learn by doing
Preparing students for the ever-evolving technologies in the fields of architecture and design is no easy task, and CHAD is facing a challenge.
Christopher Sweeney is one of the design teachers who is dedicated to accomplishing this task by showing students emerging design technologies such as 3D printing.
He said not all students learn the same things in the same way. If they continue learning after leaving the course, then I've succeeded.
To create a dynamic and open learning environment, Chris designed the curriculum to primarily encourage hands-on and critical thinking learning through 3D printing.
Teaching 9th to 12th graders is not easy, as some may not have received formal education in art or design. Nevertheless, Chris says he enjoys learning throughout his 22 years of teaching.
CHAD students use Ultimaker on their projects.
A youthful spirit that craves challenges means staying up-to-date with the latest and most cutting-edge technologies, which is why Chris enjoys introducing digital production and 3D modeling to his students.
He said, "They think it's really great." "Especially when it's related to another maker tool or other function in life." Chris believes it's important that students develop good work ethic and consistent problem-solving skills in their areas of interest as they learn about design, art, math, science, or anything else.
Productivity available at the touch of a button
When Chris started adding 3D printing to his CHAD course, he faced issues with budget, materials, and workflow.
It was very important to find a machine that could produce high-quality prints at an affordable price for use in his classroom.
When Chris discovered Ultimaker, he was drawn to the printer's craftsmanship, its ease of use and aesthetics, and the possibilities for design.
He chose Ultimaker 2 Extended+ for his CHAD design course and found it reduced his time and money by half.
When you press a button, the possibilities are virtually endless. Using Ultimaker for 3D printing has transformed the way I work and the process of handling massive projects.
Whether it's design, art, or anything else, it represents a completely new way of thinking.
The printer operates 4 to 6 hours a day, printing students' work continuously. They not only save time and money by using Ultimaker on CHAD,
Moreover, the quality and characteristics of the prints impressed Chris and his class. Furthermore, although the Ultimaker machine has various settings,
But students can easily print in just a few steps, thanks to Chris teaching students how to design objects for 3D printing in his busy classroom. 
An object designed and printed by a student.
Challenge students to broaden their horizons
While working on formal design projects, Chris enjoys challenging his students to think about entrepreneurial ideas and hoping to broaden their horizons.
One project involved a challenging design task: creating a prosthetic limb for Sara, a high school student with cerebral palsy. 
The project, themed around Sara, was a challenge that students had to complete over six months, going through numerous 3D printing and testing phases. Once finished, they successfully designed a prosthetic for Sara, enabling her to draw—potentially her first ever drawing. Chris said this project was what we call an "a-ha" moment in education. Everything was wonderful.
CHAD students often face many challenges in designing tools, equipment parts, and other areas. He hopes that by learning 3D printing technology, CHAD design students can specifically enhance their skills in this area after graduation.
Planning ways to solve problems
In the near future, Chris hopes to add an Ultimaker 3 to his classroom and buy himself an Ultimaker 2 Go. He's excited to discover the wonders of 3D...
New methods of using materials in printing, and art, design, engineering, mathematics, and science will be more refined than ever before. 
3D printing design from CHAD
Chris believes 3D printing presents a great opportunity for emerging industries to practice problem-solving. He says, "3D printing is key to overcoming many barriers to understanding how to create, manufacture, and solve problems in their education and lives. The path educators choose today will influence the future capabilities of design-focused students."
Welcome to our website and Pioneer Program to learn more about the stories of 3D printing applications in education!
Original source: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/50150-helping-students-thrive-with-3d-printing-at-chad