While Z Corporation and Congressman John Tierney announced a new education program entitled EngineeringZONE™
aimed at tackling the U.S. skills crisis, Melba Kurman and Hod Lipson are also
working to inspire the next generation of inventors through 3D printing. Just as the ‘Maker Movement’ is motivating more people to start making their ideas a reality with 3D printing, this same sense of empowerment is being channeled by educators to inspire students to engage in their studies, especially in relation to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focus of the U.S. government.
Shapeways is working towards making it easier for educators to integrate 3D printing into their learning curriculum by helping them to understand and communicate 3D modeling, 3D printing, the materials, processes and potential.
If you are an educator or student interested in being involved in our 3D Printing Educational Program please sign up to keep up to date with developments. It does not matter if you have no prior experience or are an expert in the
field, we want to work together to inspire, educate and empower students with 3D
printing.
Image by brum d
Zcorp gets more than a thumbs up… horns, man!
Stratasys offers a huge discount on materials for educational institutions. I’d like to see Zcorp pledge to do the same. The kids like big stuff. Schools should be charged a normal retail markup instead of the current pricing model, which was a reaction to the quickly saturated industrial market.
Hi Aaron, Z Corporation offers substantial educational discounts to educational institutions and has for years, but true education support goes well beyond providing discounts. Z Corp. also developed a basic curriculum of materials that will help students derive the most educational benefit from their 3D printers. The curriculum is oriented around the National Science Education Standards for Technological Design as developed by the National Research Council. The members of the National Research Council are drawn from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. We have also developed an AIA credit-approved curriculum which is used frequently. Z Corp is also a proud and avid supporter of Project Lead the Way and are involved in numerous other education-related initiatives. EngineeringZONE is just the latest education program developed by Z Corp.
I’m very happy to hear that, Julie. Having that structure is helpful for teachers who are new to the technology. My main interest here is getting the technology into young peoples hands immediately. Offering guidance but an opportunity for unstructured use. Though the applications in industry today are mature and defined, I suspect kids will be teaching us a thing or two very shortly. Thank you for your response.
I would love to have more information about 3d printing in education.