If it’s Friday at Steinhatchee School, it is time for STEM! Their 4th and 5th graders are using a free online program called “Tinkercad” to learn to use CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing). Tinkercad helps their students to learn the 21st century skill of transforming an idea into reality by computer designing models, toys, prototypes, or jewelry and printing them on a 3D printer. They are in the very beginning lessons, but so far they have designed and printed an earbud cord holder, a box and lid, and this week they plan to design and print cell phone stands. In order to do this the students first had to learn the parts of a 3D printer and the basics of how it works along with the features of the 3D printer and the TInkercad software.
This process requires grit and a “don’t quit” attitude because they have seen several printing failures, but the students and teachers keep trying and figure out a workaround and they are off printing again. Mr. Bray, Steinhatchee School Principal, and the fourth / fifth grade science teacher, Tracey Blackshear, think that this 3D printer and software are going to lead some of their students into a high paying STEAM career later on in life. Steinhatchee School is grateful for the Flashforge 3D printer and “Learning by Layers” lessons provided for us by the school district.
