Arts Integration at School 21: Three-D Printing

Recently, students at School 21 worked with art teacher, Raquel Ford, to create a 3-D printing project with her students using Makerbot printers in her classroom. This arts integration project had multiple stages.

Students first learned about what 3-D printers are and how they work. They reviewed safety information and procedures. Next, students created  accounts on Tinkercad connected with their school gmail accounts. 

Ms. Ford commented:

"Tinkercad is a great website to guide students in learning and creating designs. It is a 3D modeling software, used online. There is no program to download, everything is free. The website comes with a selection of tutorials to help new users learn how to use the software. The students are able to go at their own pace, review, and practice the various functions on their own. Students learned how to manipulate objects in 3 planes of space (x, y, and z). The tutorials help them practice how to select, move, rotate, scale, duplicate, group, and create negative space."

"After the initial ten tutorials, students practiced their skills on their choice of sample projects. These guided projects have goals like create a button, create a castle, make a toy, etc."

Students were thoroughly engaged in this project and learned about technology, math and art throughout. This lesson included 7th and 8th grade general ed, bilingual. The software is only available in English however Ms. Ford is bilingual (English/Spanish) and could help her Spanish-speaking students understand the text.

From Ms. Ford: 

"Our main project was to design their own personalized keychains. They used text and objects to create a personalized keychain for their own use. They practiced saving, sharing, downloading, and uploading the file to the printer software."

         

"Our 3D printers are MakerBot Sketches. The classroom set comes with two printers, two full set of tools, and several rolls of the PLA filament. The software is easy for a teacher to use. I created an upload link and shared it with the students. The upload link lets them enter their information and files. The requests are funneled into the teachers dashboard. The teacher can review all submitted files to ensure the print will be successful. The teacher can approve or reject the file submitted. Once approved, it automatically queues into the connected printer wirelessly. Once the printing bed is clear, the teacher starts the download and the machine begins extruding the material." 

"School students really enjoy watching the printers move and print their projects in real time. Each printer has a see through enclosure so students can watch but not touch. When the print is done, the print can be removed with a spatula and any extra support or structures can be snipped off with the included clippers. Students learned about tool safety and used the tools to prep their keychains for painting.They clipped and sanded as needed."

"Students used acrylic paint to create a design of their own choice. After painting, they took pictures of their designs and created a collaborative display of their creations. They then wrote personal artist statements reflecting on the process and their designs." 

                                 

Below are some of the students' statements:

"I made a 3D keychain and I used an app called Tinkercad. Tinkercad helped me design my keychain so it can be printed. I use a 3D printing website to help print my keychain. The art looks like a keychain that is waiting to be painted. I feel happy with my art because I have never 3D printed before, If I could go back and change something about my art it would be nothing." - Madison D. - 7A

"I 3D printed a key chain with my name on it. First I 3D printed the key chain then I took off the thing in the back then I painted the key chain. My chain is white and has Ray on it with a star. I feel very good about my art because in my opinion is so cool. If I could go back I would put more color on it so it would be white and blue." - Raynelis P. - 7A

"I made a keychain Ms.Ford helped me make it she has a 3D printer so she made it for me and I designed it when it done I had to take all the extra plastic off and then paint it I made it for my father because he always carries something that can remind him of his kids. The keychain has my name on it with a heart." - Joshua O. - 7B

"I made a keychain. I 3D printed it and then painted it. I describe my art as unique and colorful. I personally feel like my art is AMAZING! If I could go back in time I would change the color." - Dayvion D. - 7B