I attended workshop that thought 3D printing. In the OU
library I learned that students can print anything they want (with in 3D
printing capability) for free. I also learned that you can 3D print on OU’s
campus. At the workshop I printed out a bell shaped cookie cutter (something I have
been looking for, for a long time). In the workshop we were taught that the
printers print in layers and that the material that the printers print with
come in a multitude of colors. By using supports that can be broken off the
printers can produce complex structures that can be both decretive and useful. While
there was a line for getting your order printed I was still able to get my
cookie cutter the very same day that I placed the order. I learned that simpler
things are faster and easier to print, especial for the school library.
Something that was also very fascinating to me was that there is a search engine
that you can just type in a key word and a patter for printing could be
downloaded and used. As a student I can see myself going back to the printing
lab for everyday things or even to create structures for projects or
presentations. As a future teacher I think it is important to understand the
base line for 3D printing because it is such a big step to the future. My future
students could be 3D printing even in the primary grade it is that easy. As a
teacher being able to understand how the printers work could help my students grow
as learners.
