Well, here's the die:
Designing with TinkerCad was surprisingly simple and intuitive. There were a few tricks to moving objects in the ways that I wanted them to move, but with the use of arrow keys, the mouse, and the handy viewing cube, I was happy with the luck of the die.
The dream would be to have a 3D printer that might be able to render these online designs for use in the real world. I have been hesitant to invest in 3D printing technology because of the cost and the potential waste.
In my discussions with Kristin, she mentioned that her school will only print objects if they have an identified use or usefulness. I think that it is important to take an approach like this to avoid waste and to ensure that a 3D printer is always viewed as a tool and not a toy.
Do you have a 3D printer at your school? Are the benefits worth the cost and upkeep? If you were a 3D printer sales rep, what would you tell me? What would you be sure to not tell me?
We have the Ditto Pro and it is meant to work with Tinkercad (made by Tinkerine). The filament can be a little expensive! But as long as you are mindful about the printing, I think it balances out the cost. You may spend your free time trouble-shooting and calibrating the printer, but the 3D printers that are made for educators have excellent video tutorials and resources. We have only used the printer for a few tinker projects so far, so I do not yet have feedback on a whole class project, but that is in the works - so stay posted for an update!
ReplyDeleteWe have a 3D printer in our Design & Innovation class. The 3D printer is only used to bring projects to life that are deemed useful outside of the class. For instance, last year the students printed tiles that said hello in various different languages. These tiles have been mounted on the counter facing the entrance. For other projects, such as key chains etc.. students are given the option to print only if they want to keep the object at the end. I think your approach to 3D printing is the way to go. There are lots of cool innovative projects that you can do with your students which can serve the school/local community. I would highly recommend.
ReplyDeleteMyra - I was drawn in by your blog title... so good with your created 3D dice! I have thought about a 3D printer for awhile now, but I have the same concerns as you. It really has to be a worthwhile investment. Hopefully within the next 3-5 years either the price will drop off or a new developing technology will take over. When 3D printer first came out, I saw a great fidget that was essentially a nut that would spin onto a bolt, but kids loved it and they could easily spin it back and forth.
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