How 3D printing could change STEM in Primary Schools

Engineering is a difficult subject to teach in Primary education. The lack of resources and space will keep any Science to a minimum, often following the plan that has been set down by others.

With a keen eye, you can spot some areas that STEM can be championed. With obvious ideas like a design festival or weekly challenge, there is little room for manoeuvre beyond that. We can find small tears in the school timetable, ways that are so subtle, they don't appear to exist.

Teachers have become akin to the cross-curricular possibilities, moving Literacy into their learning journeys and Mathematics into Design and Technology. This is quite simple. The fact that number work can be used in Design is quite obvious, creating writing opportunities for topics is normal too, what about the Engineering aspects from STEM?

So, what am I aiming for here? With the challenge of finding new engineers to fill the void, the heat is rising to a point where society will suffer. I have always been eager to see children given the chance to try out new ideas that spark those that are drawn to it. Tasks that are new and innovative, work like a radar, locating these individuals for teachers to hone in on.

3D printers are an incredible innovation. It is likely that they could work as one of those radars in Primary. Imagine that children are given the chance to plan, design and watch the layers of their creation grow. They look upon it like a god, waiting for the filament to form a little soldier, car or dinosaur. This concept is possible, the reality is that the draw of such a new technology will lead those to swarm toward it. With the likelihood of 3D printing becoming a 'normal' skill, just like computers in the 90s, there is a ticking clock for those that will inevitably move into an engineering field.

School could operate a share in a printer, grants or funding could purchase one of them. With minor tuition, there is little for teachers to learn about them. The future is definitely bright, 3D printers are now moving over to full-size construction, filament being exchanged for a flow of concrete. Imagine the possibilities, the creation of usable cars or a cheap way to produce shelter for those in need.

TinkerCAD - A free 3D design studio by Local Makers.

What could happen to the future if we were able to offer this or other technologies? With the price of these printers falling, the existing laptops will manage the software. Free downloads are available, so licensing is not a major issue. I hope that we can see this right now, whilst targeting those in the zone, we can be changing everybody's future for the better.

Extreme? What do you think? With funding being tight, we need to find these opportunities as the prices fall. Until next time...