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White Rock classroom 3D printers inspire student creativity
White Rock Elementary students are using cutting edge technology to bring their imaginations to life. Glenn Clinton’s sixth grade classroom is now home to two 3D printers, which gives students the power to see their designs made into real-life creations.
Clinton’s classroom is just like every other—it has a whiteboard, a maze of desks, and students ready to learn. But unlike other rooms at White Rock, it comes with a twist. Two of the advanced 3D model-making devices sit side-by-side, and the evidence of them is everywhere. The students have three-dimensional name tags on their desks in a room filled with their creations.
The printers - one of which Clinton acquired through DonorsChoose.org, the other he inherited from a former teacher - give students opportunities to be creative and make things that they are excited about. For Giselle Barragan, that was a business card holder for her grandmother, while Kai Bui opted to make a Minecraft creature called a Creeper.
Students that want to use the printers search on a website full of designs. If what they want isn’t there, they can modify an existing design or create their own. Before they print, Clinton has his students explaining in writing what they want to make and why. After he looks it over, they can get to work.
“[I love] learning different subjects, but [we are] also having fun” said Ani Muradyan, a student in Clinton’s class.
It takes some practice for the students to learn how to use the printers. Maritza Negrete made an anniversary gift for her parents, but not without trial and error. And Muradyan had to adjust the measurements on a pencil box to make sure the top and bottom pieces fit together.
Clinton encourages his students to help one another use the printers. When someone has a question, he sends them over to another student and has them work together to find a solution.
“It’s neat to see that everyone’s helping somebody else,” Clinton said of his students.
The printers have sparked several students to become interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields after gaining hands-on experience. Tanya Babruk didn't know what 3D printers were before this year, but now she thinks she might want to work with them as a career.
“It’s really incredible what this could lead to. The fact that they know how to use [the 3D printers] will open so many doors” said Clinton.