3D printing has been around since the late 80’s, yet manages to capture our imaginations and interest as a horizon technology perhaps because of its growing presence in the marketplace and applications beyond engineering such as in healthcare and education. 3D printing encourages a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) interdisciplinary approach to education and lifelong learning.
3D printing technology in higher education presents an opportunity to tackle learning challenges in innovative ways. One way 3D printers are being used right now at the College of IST are John Hill’s IST 402 students creating working prototypes of portable data collection equipment used by healthcare workers in rural areas of Kenya.
We are also interested in new research applications. What might be gained by developing 3D printed models of social networks created by counterterrorism intelligence analysts? Jacob Graham, Col. USMC Ret., another faculty here at the college, suggested that the Red Cell Analytics Lab look into new security threats afforded by 3D printing technology like the possibility of printing using Semtex plastic explosives. There are numerous opportunities if we start to look across the wide-range of subject-matter areas that this College encompasses.
Beyond the brick-and-mortar boundaries of University Park, we want to investigate opportunities to engage with our massive community of online learners around the globe. We are looking into ways in which 3D printing can help extend the classroom experience into students’ hands whether they are living in Washington, DC, Washington State, or stationed aboard the future USS Washington.
There are also opportunities to address the needs of our students with accessibility challenges. We recently presented a demo of 3D Printing to members of the 3D/Tactile Printing for Accessibility work-group that includes staff and faculty from various colleges and units around the University. This group is uniquely interested in collaborating to solve how we can effectively and affordably provide alternative ways of representing data when flat images or other visual graphics are not enough.
There is so much happening in the 3D Printing and Maker communities that encourage learners to acquire new competencies that will help drive all of us to a better, more exciting future. The Office of Learning Design is passionate about researching how this and other horizon technologies can be used to improve our learning experiences.