St. Thomas More School in Cincinnati (STTMS), Ohio, serves the Catholic faith community as part of the St. Thomas More Parish. The K-8th grade school’s mission is to ground students in their faith, inspire them to wonder, and encourage them to give their best to the world.
The school maintains strong educational beliefs, including that technology is an important part of 21st-century teaching and learning and that various teaching and learning methods promote students’ learning. The school has over 250 students with caring parents who are primary educators and role models working with school staff to fulfill the school’s mission.
Introduction to 3D Printing
When a parent approached teacher Amy Dugan with the idea of 3D printing in
the classroom, it sounded intriguing. However, Amy’s primary concern (besides the cost) was ensuring that any technology introduced to the class had a role in the curriculum.
“We didn’t want a 3D printer for the sake of learning how 3D printers worked.
We’ve been to conferences; we know 3D printing is fantastic, but we were not looking for a toy that may later sit and gather dust. It had to have value in the context of learning,” said Amy, who teaches junior high-aged students social studies, STEM, and health. Amy is also the school's technology coordinator, and, along with Marsha Barnes, an administrative assistant, they agreed to try BE3D eDee.
As a teacher who used to work with technology with her junior high students, she knew that the kids would take to 3D printing easily. “They are digital natives, and I knew they would be able to use it right away. I was more concerned if I would be able to learn it easily. However, it’s intuitive, and the interface is excellent.” Soon, Amy was confidently printing her students’ models.
Using BE3D Academy as a Curriculum
To get started incorporating 3D printing with her curriculum, Amy looked at
the lessons in BE3D Academy. BE3D Academy is included with the BE3D eDee solution and contains 3D lessons and models in STEAM subjects for a range
of school-age grades. She decided to start with the 3D Mapping lesson, as it
would fit in nicely with her class study of US battles during the Civil War. She
used Google Classroom to distribute the BE3D Academy lesson materials to
her students.
“The students needed to do some research on the battles we
were studying – something that they normally would not be excited about –
but knowing that they would be doing some 3D printing got students every
excited, and they completed their research quickly.”
Amy was pleased that BE3D eDee could take the files students created in
TinkerCAD or MicroBit and drop them into eDee’s software. “eDee and
these design programs all worked very well together. It all went faster than I
expected”, she noted. “I plan to use the Archaeological Dig lesson next.”
With the 3D Mapping lesson adapted for use in studying US battles, the
students covered many topics, including identifying where the battle took place and its geographical location, spelling of the state, identifying states by their shape, and even math, as the students had to work out scaling the model for 3D printing. The models are now on display with the lesson completed, and students can take them home later.
3D printing has to have value in the context of learning. Students needed to do some research on the battles we were studying—something that they normally would not be excited about—but knowing that they would be doing some 3D printing got them very excited about the subject matter.
Amy Dugan, Teacher, St. Thomas More School
What’s Next for St. Thomas More?
If not for COVID, Amy would have her 7th graders working on projects with 3rd
graders. “The lessons in BE3D Academy have excellent short videos; the fact that the lessons are ISTE-certified is wonderful. BE3D eDee was a great first
experience.” The teachers are excited about 3D printing now, and Amy knows
that if she can get more 3D printers, the more students will use them, and even
more students will be able to use them.
The lessons in BE3D Academy are really good short videos, and it's wonderful that they are ISTE-certified. BE3D eDee was a great first experience.
Amy Dugan, Teacher, St. Thomas More School
True to their belief that technology can be a great learning tool, but only if it
contributes to learning; Amy noted that her principal, Candace Hurley, will want to know what “Professional Development” will be required to expand 3D printing use in the school. Amy said, “I can tell her it’s easy and will take far less PD time than other high-tech options.” Amy also noted that 3D printing benefits students who do not use pencil and paper or lecture methods. With 3D printing, it adds a spark in them.
CARES Act
St. Thomas More is planning to apply for CARES Act funding to, among other
things, add more 3D printers. “We have three buildings in our school and our
the goal is to have three other grade levels using 3D printing by the time the school season ends.”
The CARES Act, a US federal government assistance program, has, as part of its scope, assistance for schools to address potential learning loss during COVID by adding critical technology to the classroom.