Told by Vanessa Miller
As an English teacher at Grace Christian School (Cypress, CA), I explored the Robo E3 Pro printer during STEM training in May. A little unconventional, right? Imagine an English teacher entering the realm of 3D printing: that's what I thought too. However, my 3D printing journey took an unexpected turn towards creating a fully functional electric violin, all thanks to a chat with Jonathan Lockwood*, our STEM expert.
I had been interested in owning an electric violin for a long time. Jonathan, the brains behind our STEM activities, encouraged printing one as an affordable solution. A few text messages to our tech-savvy music pastor and I had a link to an electric soundboard and we realized that this latent desire could be a reality. Additionally, I was very confident that the process would make me very familiar with the machines, which would help me feel comfortable guiding my students through the many-stage process. This marked the integration of 3D printing into my teaching routine.
Browsing Thingiverse for 3D print files and using Tinkercad to make modifications, I found myself immersed in the fascinating process of creating a violin layer by layer. It wasn't always easy; Challenges arose and I refined and adjusted them as I went along.
The moment the violin components materialized, the excitement was tangible. Assembling it with pre-drilled holes, adding screws and putting it together was like solving a musical puzzle. Even my initially skeptical father joined in and brought in his expertise to put the pieces together.
Now for the most satisfying part: playing the full 3D printed violin. The sound volunteers and music staff were very excited to help me connect my violin to the church sound system; plugging in my acoustic violin had been problematic for years. The first sounds at home, on my amplifier, were interesting, but the second attempt with the church sound system was nothing short of magical. Beautiful sounds filled the space, leaving both me and the worship team in awe.
Look at this video:
What's even more exciting is the impact it had on my students. sharing this 3d print The experience with my students sparked their interest in STEM projects, proving that the world of 3D printing is not exclusive to technology enthusiasts, but is accessible to anyone willing to explore its possibilities. My middle school students have the opportunity several times a year to design and print projects that work with our novels and their settings. The process of printing their items, from idea to reality, is a great learning experience for them.
So, dear fellow educators, think about integrating 3D printing into your teaching toolkit. It has the potential to enrich students' experiences, fostering curiosity and creativity in unexpected ways.
*Jonathan Lockwood is a STEM training and development specialist for box light
Explore the power of 3D printing with the award-winning Robo 3D printers. For more information, click here.
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