My students are enthusiastic, curious 7th graders who love science, particularly hands-on projects. A Makerbot 3D printer will bring to life the science behind design and manufacturing, while providing students with actual skills in these fields that will propel them into future STEM opportunities.
My students travel from neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn in order to come to my school in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
They come from diverse backgrounds; the majority are children of color. My students are very passionate about science, absolutely love hands-on experiments, and I strive to provide them with as many authentic, engaging and rigorous science investigations as possible. A Makerbot 3D printer will give my students the unique, exciting opportunity to work with the latest printing technology, which will provide them with real skills to hopefully pursue future STEM opportunities, courses and even careers. Most of my students come from backgrounds that are vastly underrepresented in STEM careers today, and it is essential they have more hands-on, real-life experiences with the technology and curriculum that can propel them into the STEM field.
My Project
My hope is to use the Makerbot 3D printer during our human body unit this year. I plan to engage students in design challenges that will not only help them develop practical skills in design and manufacturing, but will help them creatively design 3D solutions to real problems of their choice. Problems students might choose to investigate (and create 3D solutions to) include designing tools to aide the relief of chronic pain in adults, minimizing the damage of concussions to football athletes, improving the design of heart valves and/or artificial joints, designing prosthetic limbs for humans or animals, and many more.
My students have incredible creativity, curiosity, enthusiasm, and an overarching love of science.
The Makerbot will provide them with countless opportunities to become even more competent and skilled scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Please help my students with this great project!
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