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A great device for enhancing STEAM education, a 3D printer for school can be a powerful tool. Here’s a collection of the best, from safe and reliable machines to those backed with an arsenal of supplementary classroom resources.
Sparking creativity in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) subjects in ways not possible before, the 3D printer is fast becoming the progressive teacher’s secret weapon.
Add to this the experience it offers students in a relatively new technology with far-reaching industrial implications as time moves on, then the benefits of introducing 3D printers into certain curriculums become clear.
That is, of course, if the application is right. It’s easy to get swept along in the buzzwordery of 3D printing without actually adding value to students’ development, not to mention material overheads to wrangle and the physical demand of serving wave after wave of youngsters. Choosing the right 3D printer for school and other educational spaces can be a challenge.
Some manufacturers make it easier, offering extensive supporting materials for educators, including lesson plans and ideas to inspire classroom fun alongside structured development goals. Others just build great machines with all the features you’d want in a classroom printer.