Pennsylvania Cyber Students Explore 3D Printing at Hands-On Summer Camp

Students from Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School's GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) and School of Engineering programs were offered the opportunity to participate in a unique two-week day camp over the summer at the school's satellite campus in Greensburg, PA.

Students' first task at the camp was to build 3D printers using kits from Printrbot. After the 3D printers were complete, they were used to do some actual 3D printing. The printers went home with students at the end of the camp.

"We wanted students to build 3D printers themselves because the build process is so full of valuable lessons," said Joel Cilli, camp counselor and research and development coordinator for the school's science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program, in a release.  "Objects sometimes take hours to print, so students who have to share printers in a class end up with very limited access. We wanted kids to have unlimited access, so building their own printers was a better approach."

The 3D printers the students built typically retail for $400, according to a release, but because the school purchased the kits in bulk and offset part of the cost the expense was reduced to $180 per camper.

Students used freely available 3D modeling programs, according to a release, to create their own designs and develop skills with CAD-style software. Completed projects included stands for a student's Nook tablet, gifts for family members and replacement parts for a student whose printer malfunctioned.

About the Author

Kevin Hudson is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • computer monitor with a bold AI search bar on the screen

    Google Rolls Out AI Mode in Search

    About a year after introducing AI Overviews for its flagship search offering, Google has announced broad availability of AI Mode in Search.

  • glowing shield hovers above a digital cloud platform with abstract data streams and cloud icons in the background

    Google to Acquire Cloud Security Firm Wiz in $32 Billion Deal

    Google has announced it will acquire cloud security startup Wiz for $32 billion. If completed, the acquisition — an all-cash deal — would mark the largest in Google's history.

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.