Einstein said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." I want my students to have meaningful hands-on experiences, and a Makerbot 3-D printer will give students an experience to last a lifetime as they design and produce an original creation.
I have 180 awesome 8th grade students who are eager to learn how Physics and Chemistry relates to them and the world around them.
They are a very diverse group of young teenagers, with varied interests, backgrounds, ethnicity, aspirations, hopes and dreams. They are eager to share and excited about the topics we have discussed so far. They are like sponges, soaking up new ideas with boundless curiosity and wonder. We have students of all levels, from advanced to far below basic in English/language arts and math. They constantly amaze me with their creativity and love of learning. The amazing projects they created for our Rube Goldberg assignment are a testament to the ingenuity of these young minds.
My Project
President Obama, in his 2013 inaugural address, called for an increase in manufacturing and technology jobs in the US. This, coupled with the need to provide relevant, STEM education, creates an optimal opportunity for our students. With a Makerbot 3-D printer, my students will be able to design, develop, and produce original works, while learning about the manufacturing process. They will be invested from start to finish with learning computer programming, working with Thingiverse, and printing and sharing 3-D models. The students will be learning abstract math concepts as well as the chemical processes that create the final product.
We, as a tech-minded society, have not even scratched the surface of what can be accomplished with 3-D printing.
By physically connecting students with this new technology, I hope to spark their imaginations and inspire them in ways that connect them to STEM-related careers.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Borstel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
