The IRC-Learning Innovations 3D Print Lab, located in Room 221B inside the IRC, gives faculty, staff, and students access to 24 3D printers and hands-on digital fabrication tools. Whether you want to introduce your students to 3D printing, create materials for your own teaching, or have students design and print projects for a course, the lab can support you.
Faculty are encouraged to schedule a class visit so students can learn how 3D printing works and begin creating their own projects. You can also incorporate the lab into an assignment and have students use the space independently to design, prototype, and print their work.
Here are just a few ways 3D printing can support teaching and learning:
• Create hands-on learning materials: Design tactile maps, models, classroom tools, sensory resources, and other materials for future K-12 educators.
• Design assistive and adaptive tools: Create prototypes of adaptive grips, accessibility tools, and customized resources that address specific needs in health and human services settings.
• Make abstract concepts tangible: Give students a physical way to explore concepts in STEM, anatomy, child development, and other disciplines through 3D models and interactive objects.
• Build real-world design skills: Give students opportunities to move from an idea to a digital design to a physical prototype while practicing spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and revision.
You don't need to be an expert in 3D printing to get started. The Learning Innovations team can help you explore ways to incorporate the lab into your course.
To schedule a class visit, learn more about using the 3D Print Lab, or get information about 3D printing pricing, contact learninginnovations@kent.edu or Dr. Julee Henry at jahenry2@kent.edu.
