Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
One possibility could be to adopt the approach taken by a pilot program
called Fab@school. Fab@school helps teachers create curriculum that inte-
grates design and 3D printing to teach core math and science concepts. The
program's goal is to create child engineers, to get youngsters excited about
science, math, and especially engineering and design. The pilot is funded by
the National Science Foundation, Motorola, and the MacArthur Foundation.
Glen Bull, a professor at the University of Virginia's Children's Engineering
Group, is leading the project.
The project's lesson plans are developed and tested by a working group of
professors, teachers, librarians and graduate students. So far, about 350 fourth
and ifth-grade students and 10 teachers have road-tested the curriculum.
Two elementary school students work with a Fab@school 3D printer. The printer was
modiied to allow printing in playdough, as well as cutting foam and other digital
manufacturing operations.
Glen and his team created a lesson plan called “Make to Learn.” The les-
son features a story about an African boy named William. William's village
doesn't have electrical power so he igures out how to make his own wind
