The Charter High School for Architecture and Design (CHAD) aims to spark curiosity through innovative curricula. With a 3D printer, design teacher
Christopher Sweeney's goal is to provide students who lack sufficient resources with access to education in art, architecture, and design, across 48 different fields in Philadelphia.
Learning by Doing
Preparing students for constantly evolving technologies in architecture and design is no easy task, and CHAD is facing this challenge head-on.
Christopher Sweeney, one of the design teachers, is dedicated to accomplishing this mission by introducing students to emerging design technologies like 3D printing.
He believes not all students learn the same things in the same way. "If they continue learning after they leave my class, then I've succeeded."
To foster a vibrant and open learning environment, Chris has designed a curriculum that primarily uses 3D printing to encourage hands-on and critical thinking among students.
Teaching young people from 9th to 12th grade is not easy, as some may not have formal education in art or design. Nevertheless, Chris states that he has been happy to learn throughout his 22 years of teaching.
CHAD students using Ultimaker on a project
The eager, young minds mean staying on top of the latest technology, which is why Chris loves introducing digital fabrication and 3D modeling to his students.
He said, "They think it's really cool." "Especially when it's related to another maker tool or something functional in life." Chris believes it's important for students to develop a strong work ethic and solid problem-solving skills in their areas of interest, whether they are learning about design, art, math, science, or anything else.
Productivity at the Push of a Button
When Chris began incorporating 3D printing into his CHAD curriculum, he faced issues with budget, materials, and workflow.
Finding a machine that could produce high-quality prints and be affordable for his classroom was crucial.
When he discovered Ultimaker, Chris was drawn to the printer's craftsmanship, its ease of use, aesthetic appeal, and design possibilities.
He chose the Ultimaker 2 Extended + for the CHAD design course and found it reduced both time and cost by half.
"When you press the button, the possibilities are almost limitless. Using Ultimaker for 3D printing has changed the way I work and the processes in my huge workload.
Whether it's design, art, or anything else, it's a whole new way of thinking."
The printers run 4 to 6 hours a day, continuously printing student works. Not only do they save time and money by operating Ultimakers at CHAD,
but the quality and characteristics of the prints have also impressed Chris and his class. Furthermore, despite the multiple settings of Ultimaker machines,
students can easily print in just a few steps. This is largely thanks to Chris, who, in a busy classroom, teaches students how to design objects for 3D printing.
An object designed and printed by students
Challenging Students to Broaden Their Horizons
While working on formal design projects, Chris likes to challenge his students to think entrepreneurially and encourages them to broaden their horizons.
One project involved a highly difficult design challenge: creating a prosthetic for Sara, a middle school student with cerebral palsy.
The "Sara Project" challenge required students to work for six months, going through many 3D printing and testing phases. Once completed, they successfully
designed a prosthetic for Sara that allowed her to draw, possibly for the first time in her life. Chris described this project as what we call an "a-ha" moment in education.
Everything was wonderful.
CHAD students often face many problems with design tools and equipment parts. He hopes that by learning 3D printing technology, CHAD design students will
especially enhance their skills in this area after graduation.
Planning Problem-Solving Methods
In the near future, Chris hopes to add an Ultimaker 3 to his classroom and purchase an Ultimaker 2 Go for himself. He is excited to discover new ways to use materials in 3D
printing, and how art, design, engineering, mathematics, and science will become even more refined than before.
3D printed design from CHAD
Chris believes 3D printing is a great opportunity to help emerging industries practice problem-solving. He says, "3D printing is key to unlocking many barriers, understanding how to
create, manufacture, and solve problems in their education and lives. The path educators choose today will impact the future capabilities of design-focused students."
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Original source: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/50150-helping-students-thrive-with-3d-printing-at-chad