[3D Printing News] School Maker Lab: Inspiring Innovation

[3D Printing News] School Maker Lab: Inspiring Innovation

Educator Rob Morrill holds a master's degree in English and possesses an unquestionable knowledge of technology. After teaching English in high school for 19 years, he now works in the laboratory at St. Matthew's Day School.
Rob is now focused on guiding young people to learn about the importance of additive manufacturing through the processes of 3D printing and digital design.

Encourage innovative thinking

After using Ultimaker for various personal projects, Rob Morrill saw the value that 3D printing brings to educational spaces.
He began introducing the 3D printing process at St. Matthew's Day School in 2015, which immediately sparked the students' interest. He says that additive manufacturing teaches young learners not only to be consumers, but also to conceive an idea and bring it to life in a few hours .


Students used 3D modeling to design facilities for a Mars colony.

'3D printing is a very powerful way to help students develop a creative, innovative mindset. '

They were also ready for the challenge. What Rob initially found exciting and amazing was that when he came to study 3D printing, he was only slightly ahead of his students.
They are eager to learn and adapt to this new technology through Rob's multifaceted teaching style, encouraging them to stand out from the diverse talents in 3D printing.


A Mars colony designed by fifth-grade students using 3D printing

Rob explained, "One feature of my teaching is the combination of different fields, technologies, and skills. For example, combining 3D printing with coding, or physics or electronics lessons. When adults create fun and powerful things, they often use a variety of tools and methods, so I think it's important and stimulating to introduce students to reinforce these approaches ."

Bringing Ultimaker's 3D printer into your life
When bringing 3D printers into his curriculum, Rob had to consider ease of use, reliability, and quality. The St. Matthew Bishop's Day school laboratory now has two Ultimaker printers available for students and staff; the Ultimaker 2 and Ultimaker 2+ , with extrusion upgrade capabilities. He praised the Ultimaker's design, noting that the LED lighting and enclosed printing environment are impressive, allowing students to clearly see their creations coming to life.

"3D printing is a miracle. I love its lighting and white walls; it makes you marvel at its magic."


A floating ocean colony designed by students, printed using Ultimaker 2.

Think outside the box for creative projects

By exploring ways to integrate 3D printing into various courses, Rob challenges his students to think outside the box. Some of his most successful classroom projects include debris protection for a carbon dioxide-powered crash test car designed and printed by fifth-grade students, and a floating ocean colony that captures the imagination of his students.
He hopes that by training his fifth-grade students on how to use CAD software and how to 3D print, he will inspire older students to embrace technology across all areas of learning.


A crash test vehicle's impact bumper, designed and 3D printed by Rob, was designed and 3D printed by students.

Although the printer was used by at most fifth-grade students at St. Matthew Anglican School, Rob still designed and printed some items for the teaching staff, such as math textbooks. The reactions of students and teachers during their first experience with 3D printing were the most memorable, which also reinforced the value of 3D printing in education.

"My students were mesmerized when they saw their printed works, how they brought their imagined digital hearts to life as real-world artifacts. "


Students using Ultimaker 3D printing 3D printing celebrates Valentine's Day

The important thing is that he hopes students and teachers will take this power and the necessary changes with them .
Rob said, "Students can quickly see the value of print designs and then repeat them after testing them in the real world."
" This is great because it applies to many areas of life." Whether in school projects, at work, or conceptualizing inventions, the additive manufacturing process provides young students with irreplaceable skills after graduation.

Solving real-world problems with 3D printing

Whenever he encounters a problem or obstacle in class, Rob asks himself, “How can I solve this with 3D printing?” For example, his first-year students are writing simple robots but cannot effectively modify their code because he doesn’t document its reliability and ease of use.
To solve this problem, he created interlocked coded tiles that allowed them to record and change the dynamics of the work connected to them.


A student designed a turtle block and used Ultimaker to 3D print it.
Rob understands that 3D printing will play a significant role in creative problem-solving in the future, providing students with the tools and environment needed to overcome similar obstacles. The 3D printing process can help teach the value of innovation and the power of necessity; cultivating a positive mindset at such a young age is highly beneficial.
It would be a great help if they seized the opportunity to learn and do.

By providing students with space to design, modify, and print objects of their imagination, the St. Matthew Bishop's Day School Maker Lab offers a meaningful and impactful way to expand the learning experience.

Original source : https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/50473-st-matthews-episcopal-day-maker-lab-inspiring-through-innovation