Educational Resources
Navigating the cosmos of 3D printing often leads educators to wonder, "How can we align this stellar technology with our curriculum?" While the benefits are clear – captivating students, fostering hands-on learning, and solving real-world challenges – integrating 3D printers into lessons remains a cosmic puzzle. Luckily, educators can find solace in the celestial array of free 3D printing educational resources available, whether it's 3D models, lessons, or activities. Here are four resources endorsed by Stellar Pyxidis 3D to guide educators in infusing 3D printing into their curriculum. Although Stellar Pyxidis 3D offers MakerBot and Ultimaker 3D printers, and some resources are linked to these brands, they're adaptable to any 3D printer in the cosmic market.
Thingiverse
Behold the cosmic expanse of Thingiverse, a celestial haven within the 3D printing universe. This vast community offers more than 300 free lessons through Thingiverse Education, spanning various grade levels and subjects. Among its treasures are over a million 3D printable designs conjured by the Thingiverse community. In this cosmic gathering, you'll find not only lessons but a wellspring of 3D printing wisdom. Venture forth and explore! In your quest through Thingiverse Education, you can chart your course across nine subject realms, from art to technology, tailored for grades from kindergarten to higher education. Each lesson guides you through a detailed cosmic voyage, equipped with step-by-step navigational instructions, student learning goals, assessment insights, and access to essential pre-designed files. These cosmic treasures also divulge details about applicable grades and subjects, required materials, journey duration, optimal print settings, and secrets of design mastery. Know that Makerbot's touch is woven into Thingiverse's cosmic fabric, though these resources harmonize with all 3D printers that grace your educational galaxy.
Makerbot
As your cosmic compass shifts, the Makerbot Educators Guidebook beckons, a definitive guide to 3D printing's cosmic classroom dance. The digital guide is a free star in the cosmic sky, while a $50 print copy is a treasure chest well worth unveiling. It unveils not just 3D design and printing lore, but also nine classroom-ready quests, each with step-by-step celestial coordinates. These quests align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Common Core, framing your educational odyssey. Each quest unfurls before you, illuminated by starlit clarity. Estimated quest durations, grade levels, difficulty rankings, preparation hours, and necessary tools adorn each step, accompanied by full-color star maps of the printed parts and the quest setup itself. With lessons crafted and inked within, the guidebook also reveals the art of preparing your cosmic classroom for 3D printing. You'll be guided to the optimal print configurations, through the cosmic labyrinth of Thingiverse, and into the realm of crafting your own project on Thingiverse Education. This guidebook isn't merely a tool; it's your companion in understanding 3D modeling and polishing your 3D print treasures. For those favored by MakerBot's celestial touch, it whispers the secrets of MakerBot software and the enchantment of printer unboxing and setup.
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https://www.makerbot.com/stories/3d-printing-education/download-the-2023-grant-guide/
2023 GRANT GUIDE for 3D Printers | MakerBot
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Ultimaker Core Lessons Set for STEAM Educators
Embrace the cosmic tapestry, for in the Ultimaker Core Lessons Set for STEAM Educators, another cosmic chapter awaits. Curated by Ultimaker's North America Community Team, these lessons launch you into a cosmic orbit of designing and printing. Embark with hands-on experiences, igniting a stellar passion for STEAM disciplines. Eight lessons await, each charted with objectives, newfound skills, cosmic prerequisites, and steps stretching from design dreams to print reality. As you navigate these lessons, you'll master Boolean operations, craft digital constellations, and illuminate the cosmos with rapid prototyping techniques and geometric revelations.
Makers Empire
Imagine a cosmic harbor known as Makers Empire, a realm rich with diverse resources. While some treasures within this celestial domain require a cosmic fee, a few gems gleam freely, like the twinkling stars of knowledge. Among them are 3D printing lesson ideas, illuminating a cosmic path within their digital constellation. Wander through this cosmic landscape, where around 25 cosmic beacons await, guiding you toward the realms of possibility. These beacons unveil inspirations on how and why 3D printing might sail smoothly into your educational voyage. From steering STEM learning through cosmic winds to fostering celestial aspirations in young cosmic navigators, the topics resonate like cosmic compass points. Their cosmic chronicles, brimming with 3D printing lore, beckon like cosmic sirens. Teacher testimonials paint cosmic portraits of enlightenment, while the celestial concept of design-based thinking is woven into the cosmic tapestry. While much of their cosmic treasure revolves around their cosmic software and cosmic community, the cosmos of Makers Empire deserves your curious gaze.