General

minipark posted a Customizable Dice (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2188139) that I used to create this Word Game (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2195386).

His dice tool accepts multiple characters, as well as special characters, such as ≥ (Alt, 242).

What are some ideas for other educational dice games (e.g., order of operations or common ions)? Or better yet, create and post an educational dice game for us all to enjoy.

Dear makers,

I'd like to kindly ask you to contribute with your time and your opinions to my survey on http://survey.gregor-design.eu/

As part of my research internship, I am working on the subject of the new industrial revolution, third places, digital manufacturing and their effect on our lives, on education, on work, on architecture and their capabilities. to produce social innovation.

I am putting it here because considerable part of the study is focused on education.

In this study, I try to find an answer to the following areas of questions:
Who is the maker?
What are his/hers motives ?
How does he/she see the present and the future?
This movement, is it viable?
Does this have the potential to reshape our society?

THANK YOU very much!!

If you find an object that might be useful to other educators, please post a comment about it here. Maybe include a link to the object and a few thoughts about how and why it might be useful for teaching and learning.

Some students struggle understanding and visualizing solid geometry. Models can help. Although low-cost models exist for basic shapes and more expensive models are available for some complex shapes, the Thingiverse provides some 3D-printable objects for only the cost of printing. Plus, 3D-printed objects have a motivating cool-factor, which is Gagne's first--and often overlooked--event of instruction (i.e., Gain Attention and Interest).

Tad Novak (tadman1996) and bbennington both posted two good sets of basic shapes:

• Elementary Geometric Shape Set - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:323113

• Shapes - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1619765

Kyle Martin (KyleMiles) also posted an ellipsoid and paraboloid:

• Math Shapes - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1371347

Are you aware of other objects that could be useful for teaching and learning about solid geometry?

Any other teaching approaches for this topic (e.g., Kinesthetic Math or Tactile Learning) that might benefit from 3D-printed learning objects?

BlocksCAD is a web-based 3D CAD tool that uses a scratch-like interface. It is simple-to-use with robust design capabilities. The tool incorporates programming and math concepts so users learn as they create! While it is easy enough to use in an elementary school classroom, the more advances functions (like modules, variables, and loops) can challenge high school and college students. It is a great tool to help with geometry, Cartesian planes, and high level math and engineering!

For more information, see: https://www.blockscad3d.com/

Search on "skeleton" in the Thingiverse, and you'll find lots of bones, mostly for Halloween. Although I've found some good educational bone specimens on the Thingiverse, most require printing with supports and lots of clean-up. Do you have some suggestions for reducing or eliminating supports when printing intricate objects? For example, you can orient the object along its tallest axis and sometimes that change will reduce the amount of supports.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:50174

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:368202

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:367268

Despite my best efforts with rafts and supports, the bottoms of spherical objects always flatten and distort for me. Any tips for printing spheres?

What are the educational possibilities of 3D printing? In my "Using 3D Printing for Teaching and Learning" presentation (https://events.educause.edu/annual-conference/2014/proceedings/using-3d-printing-for-teaching-and-learning), I identify three educational possibilities for 3D printing:

1. 3D printing is a real-life technology, so students need to be aware of this technology.
2. Instructors can create and use 3D models of objects and systems to better demonstrate concepts and processes.
3. Students can create objects and models for deeper understanding.

Other ideas?

I taught high-school physics many years ago. Students really enjoyed demonstrations and labs. Although the equipment often was fairly simple, it also could be expensive, and that cost limited our demonstrations and labs. I think 3D printing offers some great possibilities for teaching and learning physics, especially on a tight budget.

I found several items on the Thingiverse that would be great for teaching physics. If you know of other such things, please post them in this discussion. Or, if you have ideas for other things, let us know about your ideas. Maybe someone will be inspired to create and share these things for those of us who love physics and want to help others learn.

Laser Diffraction Grating - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:209015

Buoyancy Boat – http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:525369

Center of Mass Dragonfly - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:750181

Uniform Acceleration Lab - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:574524

Archimedes Blocks - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:796902