learnbylayers, a provider of 3D printing educational resources, has partnered with the National STEM Learning Centre based at the University of York in UK.
As part of the partnership, the STEM Learning Centre will be running a free two day course this summer on “Using 3D printers creatively in KS3 and KS4,” preparing primary and secondary school teachers with all the basics of the technology.
Teaching 3D printing since 2015
3D printing has been a regular part of STEM Learning Centre courses since 2015. The two day course, starting July 5th, will feature workshops on topics such as where 3D printers are used, how they work, health and safety sessions and Autodesk Fusion 360 tutorials.
The course will be delivered by Philip Cotton, a Design and Technology teacher and Associate Facilitator at the STEM Learning Centre, and Dave Parry, Health and Safety consultant at CLEAPSS, a UK advisory service providing science and technology support to schools.
Over the last 10 years the STEM Learning Centre has trained over 19,000 teachers, technicians and support staff in STEM courses, who have collectively taught over 4 million young people in classrooms.
The course will equip teachers with the knowledge and tools necessary put 3D printing into school curriculums.
The 3D printing skills gap
Course attendees will receive a free copy of learnbylayers’ Intermediate 3D printing lesson pack, ordinarily costing £69.99. The lesson pack offers ready to teach lessons, powerpoints, lesson tasks, .STL files, homework and answer sheets.
Courses and resources like those offered by learnbylayers and the STEM Learning Centre are an important part of bridging the 3D printing skills gap.
MakerBot’s Starter Lab program, launched in 2015, is bringing 3D printing labs to schools. The labs feature a range of MakerBot products, such as the Replicator+ and Z18 3D printers. Installation of the lab also provides training through Makerbot’s local partners.
PrintLab International a 3D printer reseller and distributor based in the UK, has launched PrintLab Classroom, an online resource for creative 3D printing projects, workbooks, and teacher training guides.
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Featured image shows the National STEM Learning Centre in York, UK. Photo via The National STEM Learning Centre.
