MakerBot, an American desktop 3D printer manufacturer and Stratasys subsidiary, has launched the MakerBot Certification Program for Students, to provide middle and high school students with 3D printing design and skills training.
The launch of the new scheme expands upon the existing International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) approved MakerBot Certification Program for Educators. Nadav Goshen, CEO of MakerBot, stated:
“We recognized very early on that teachers needed more than just a 3D printer; they needed a learning tool. As a result, we developed a full line of offerings for educators, including the MakerBot Certification Program for Educators, launched in April 2018. Following the success of the program, teachers wanted a similar program for their own students.”
“We are excited to announce the MakerBot Certification Program for Students to provide them with 3D printing skills training. This program will not only help them to develop critical thinking skills and how to innovate with a MakerBot 3D printer but also enable educators to integrate 3D printing into their curriculums further.”
The MakerBot Certification Program for Students
Through its educational ecosystem, MakerBot has provided over 7,000 K-12 schools in the U.S with 3D printers, tools, and resources in order to support the adoption of 3D printing in classrooms and enhance STEM and STEAM learning.
As part of the MakerBot Certification Program for Students, design education professionals and 3D printing experts have provided content geared towards developing students’ creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving skills.
The MakerBot Certification Program for Students comprises of an online course divided into four different modules, each centering around separate aspects of design thinking and 3D printing. The first, the 3D Printer Operator Module is the starting point where students will learn how to set up, manage, and troubleshoot a MakerBot 3D printer.
This is followed by Design Thinking, where real-world design challenges are presented to enhance critical problem-solving skills including observation, ideation, and design. Next is the Applied Design Thinking Module which will teach students how to approach their own projects. Finally, the Design for 3D Printing Module will advance 3D printing skills for complex models.
Upon completion of the four-part course, students will earn their MakerBot certification. They will receive an STL file of a MakerBot Certification Program for Students award model to 3D print and mark their achievement.
The MakerBot Certification Program for Students is projected to be released for the 2019-2020 school year, with registration expected to begin July 1, 2019. Purchases of the program will include access to the MakerBot Certification Program for Educators as well, so schools can use the programs simultaneously in order to provide a cohesive and complete 3D printing learning environment.
Jennifer Renne, Modeling and Simulation Instructor, Landstown High School Governor’s STEM & Technology Academy, comments:
“By having my students involved in this process, they will see that 3D printing is more than just making toys and fun gadgets; it is about understanding how 3D printers work and how it is applicable in a variety of industries.”
3D printing in education
The MakerBot Certification Program for Students joins various other initiatives established by 3D printing companies to help integrate 3D printing in education and enhance the STEAM/STEM curriculum. This includes some from MakerBot itself, beyond the Certification Program.
The company’s 3D model repository, Thingiverse, also provides over a hundred free lessons for 3D printing in various grade levels and subjects. Additionally, the company also has a program called the MakerBot Starter Lab, which is an innovation lab stocked with all of MakerBot’s products for institutions such as K-12 schools to use.
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Featured image shows students and teacher using the MakerBot Certification Program for Students. Image via MakerBot.
