The Sizer School in Boston, Massachusetts is getting a 3D education. Since the former North Central Charter Essential School began their pilot 3D printing program, students have been getting their hands on the NVPro 3D printer, an automated printer from Boston-based NVBOTS. The machine is now fully integrated into the teacher’s lesson plans, allowing students to print three-dimensional models of whatever they’re learning about.
Linda Tarantino, Instructional and Technology Integration Coach at The Sizer School says, “The Sizer School offers an interdisciplinary approach to education that is both inclusive and intellectually challenging. As we strive to inspire passionate and creative life-long learners, NVBOTS has been a true partner every step of the way.”
The Sizer School is unique. It is a 7-12 grade urban public charter school in Massachusetts, serving about 370 students. Like Tarantino says, the school offers an interdisciplinary and open-minded approach to learning. When The Sizer School first got the NVPro 3D printer, no one on the staff had any idea how to use it. 3D design and 3D printing were new skills to be learned for both teachers and students. Luckily, with the support of NVBOTS, teachers and students really stepped up to the plate. Now, 3D printing is incorporated into several different areas of curricula in addition to the more obvious math and science classes.
Recently, an 8th grade class was learning about the life of Helen Keller. Using the NVPro, students printed out name-tags written out in Braille. In one English class, 7th grade students printed out bookmarks based on fairy tales they had written. Students are definitely getting excited about the technology, so much so that the school recently established a 3D Printer club for students to explore the technology after school.
Education is one of the company’s biggest passions, and NVBOTS CEO AJ Perez had this to say about the continuing partnership, “NVBOTS is dedicated to inspiring young minds by exposing them to the experiential learning needed to excel in the world. We look forward to collaborating with The Sizer School on additional programs in the months ahead, creating valuable experiences that will make a lasting impact on student development and their ability to achieve personal greatness.”
It is always fun to see 3D printing technology inspiring future generations of Makers.
