Evaluation of RepRap 3D printer workshops in K-12 STEM
As facilitators of 3D printer workshops, the authors developed a survey to gage how the printers are actually being used and whether they support the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) requirements, especially in regard to engineering design. The survey response rate was 52% of 68 total participants with the majority conveying that 3D printers do facilitate student understanding of the engineering design process and that the workshops empowered them and their students to tackle projects previously perceived as beyond their skill level. Insufficient preparation for troubleshooting hardware and software issues was listed as the greatest barrier to fully realizing the technology’s potential in the classroom. Also highlighted was a lack of resources for development of meaningful lesson plans using this nascent technology.
2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Irwin, J. L., Oppliger, D., Pearce, J. M., & Anzalone, G. C. (2015). Evaluation of RepRap 3D printer workshops in K-12 STEM. 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, (). Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/materials_fp/79