Classroom education isn't just about textbooks and green boards anymore. There's so much more one can learn, understand and adapt to in a classroom, and that's why education is a much more fun and experiential process today. That being said, classroom learning doesn't always have to be boring or mundane either. There are several tools and gadgets that professors can use to enhance the experience and make it much more fun and engaging.
Classroom learning can be very dynamic, but that depends entirely on what mediums one is using to get the material across. Creativity here lies in how you can use even a simple tool to make a boring lesson a lot more interesting!
So, let's talk about one such device that has become quite a favorite amongst artists and students alike: the 3D Printing Pen.
How Does a 3D Pen Work?
Like a paintbrush that can bring things to life, a 3D printing pen is a handy and entertaining tool to use. It puts the power in your hands to draw absolutely anything that you desire, either on a solid surface or directly in the air, and watch it become a 3D model in a matter of minutes. 3D pens are a recent development and have taken the market by storm. Today, both professionals and beginners love using 3D pens and consider it an asset that supports their artistic needs. You could check out the synopsis on 3D pens in TTC to understand more on this.
3D pens give the user more mobility because you can turn a free-hand drawing into a tangible one. Here, instead of ink like in a regular pen, you have plastic filaments that go through a heated tube, to come out in a liquid form that is used as ink.
What Difference Will a 3D Pen Make for Classroom Learning?
- Improve the ways in which projects can be taught and also executed by the students
- Expand possibilities for creativity and innovation
- Increase the potential for assignments to be more fun and interactive
- With the above reasons in mind, let's look at how a 3D pen can make all of that happen
Live Projects
Projects which need to be worked on within the classroom can be made a lot more interactive with the use of 3D pens. Whether the students are working individually or in groups, they can use these pens to create mock models, stencils, and other objects to enhance their projects.
Making Work Fun
All children detest homework at some point, and that does have a negative impact on their keenness to learn. To keep the interest going, schools can allow homework assignments where students have to use a 3D pen to create something for points or marks. This will also greatly encourage them to explore their creative side and add a new feather to their cap. What's more, they might actually prefer taking back work and using a 3D pen to showcase their projects in class the next day.
Contests
Classroom competitions can be a great way to increase morale and drive in students. Conducting an exclusive 3D pen competition could be a great idea for students as well as for teachers to really see how they shine and execute their ideas. 3D pen models are also great to take back home and display as a souvenir.
Tangible Models
Teaching through visual aid is one of the oldest ways to do so, but the medium of showcasing the visuals has seen a shift over time. 3D pens make for an excellent tool to bring a model to life and to instantly turn a simple drawing into something that can be touched, felt and viewed in a better dimension. Whether its science or art, a 3D model can give the children a 360-degree view of things, and they can also recreate a model once they've got the hang of it. This applies to science, arts, lab models and so many other spheres of learning.
How Do You Pick the Right 3D Pen for a Classroom?
- Smooth Flow
You don’t want your pen to get stuck midway through while drawing anything because, unlike just a regular pen, you can’t erase what you’ve drawn or undo it either. A 3D pen uses heat mainly to melt the plastic that comes out of it, so a good, consistent flow is very important to create a sturdy piece. A great way to tackle this is to test out the pen first and see how long it takes for the plastic to come out. If you’re unable to test it yourself or this is your first time using a 3D pen, then you can look for the brand of your choice on YouTube and check out a tutorial video.
- Working on Different Surfaces
Not all 3D pens work the same on different surfaces. Just like regular pens, they have different quality and performance based on a number of factors like the plastic being used or the quality of the technology in the pen. Some pens might not deliver smooth functioning on all surfaces. There have been instances where an art piece hasn’t been able to manifest on certain surfaces, which limits both the art and the artist. If you have a standard workstation, then this might not be a problem. However, if you’re looking to work in different places and versatility matters, then it’s better to read the manual and find out which surfaces the pen can be freely used on.
- Quick Cooling
If you plan to use this pen to create 3D images of bigger projects or larger art pieces, then how fast the pen cools down definitely makes a difference. If a pen takes too long to cool down, then it’s a lot of precious time lost. You can’t use the pen when it’s too hot, and waiting for it to be usable again can be quite tedious. Especially if you have a deadline or a schedule to follow, unnecessary time delays can pose quite an issue. In such a case, opting for a pen that cools down faster is a smart choice to make. Time is always an important factor, and you might just save yourself some with the proper research.
Final Thoughts
And, there you go! Just like that a 3D pen can revamp the way lessons and projects are being undertaken in a classroom environment. The introduction of this tool to a classroom is sure to have a positive change on the way students learn and also implement their knowledge.
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