A great discussion the 3D printing community is having is that of when it’s best to give kids a foothold in additive manufacturing. After all, the technology may one day become ubiquitous and require at least a basic operational knowledge. NYIT and We Connect the Dots are way ahead of us is in this regard. Their CreatingSTEAM summer program is a 10 day experiential learning program all about opportunities in the STEAM fields. The programs promote building technology and skills while working together in teams. The program returns, once again, for the 5th year, this time introducing a bit of 3D printing.
The program can be a great introduction to any teenagers looking to build an interest in additive manufacturing. CreatingSTEAM caters towards teens in the ages of 13 through 18. Although, they only allow a limit of 64 students into the program and it costs $1,350 per person. While that price might seem steep, the printers will belong to the kids by the end of the program. What better way to learn about 3D printers than assembling your own with a teacher at hand?
The Build Your 3D Printer event will be utilising the JellyBox Easy build kit. The JellyBox is a fantastic kit for any enthusiastic beginners. It gives great insights into the ins and outs of basic printer set-ups and their inner mechanism. It’s also easy and quick to build, and it’s transparency makes teaching a hell of a lot easier.
Modernising Education with CreatingSTEAM Summer Program
The CreatingSTEAM summer program is a great foray into the STEAM fields, outside of printing as well. It teaches relevant and modern skills that range from computer building to learning about the Internet of Things to sustainable development projects among many others. Students work in teams to build a conceptual business that supports the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. At the end, students will present their designs to a panel of judges. The judges will comprise major members of companies in the tech industry, such as Microsoft, who can offer critique.
Programs like this have been cropping up all over the place recently, though none are quite as extensive as this one. Often printer companies themselves take steps to introduce educational programs and products these days. The increased interest in education is quite reminiscent of computer usage programs and the beginnings of computer science as an accepted necessity for primary and high school kids.
Other program usually try to teach kids about printers in a more general sense, usually only incorporating the creation side of it. This program is unique in that it wants kids to get into the assembly and see the machine from the inside. It’s a valuable opportunity for any child, despite what may seem like an exorbitant payment. It can also provide some very important experiences and training for future careers.
Featured image courtesy of NYIT.
