Benefits of 3D Printing For Schools

Some suggest 3D printing is still in it's infancy.. a technology just getting started, much like personal computing in the late 1970s. One thing that's clear, 3D printing is here to stay. 3D printers have changed the way we design and manufacture, they've changed healthcare, and changed the way we think. Students are

Sometimes, presenting new and interesting ways to learn is more than enough of a benefit for a teacher! 3D Printers really are engaging.

Benefits for Classrooms

Capture interest of students

3D printing is truly engaging. The process of designing and then printing their creation both stirs creativity but the feedback from idea to creation makes the learning process both enjoyable but more importantly it makes learning effective.

Create tangible aids

Some learning concepts are difficult to represent using standard learning materials. Anything you would normally draw out on the whiteboard, you now can 3D print, which allows students to hold it in their hands and inspect from any angle. Also great for the visually impaired! Contact our partners at See3D if you're interested in helping out or giving back.

Promotes Problem-Solving Skills

Having a 3D printer allows you to fix things that might be destined for the landfill otherwise. Work with your students to fix a wobbly table or slamming cabinet in your room, and showcase this great feature of rapid prototyping.

Printing parts that fit together teaches the concept of "Engineering Tolerance". You only have to make the mistake once to realize that a 1 inch peg does not fit inside of a 1 inch hole!

It Doesn't Break the Budget

3D printing is cheap now! A student can design iterations of their custom ideas, and print them all out for pennies on the dollar.

A Polar Cloud-enabled 3D printer can be had for $300 or $400 dollars, and you can share access to it with all teachers and your entire student body with a Site License to the Polar Cloud.