Workshop Spotlight
Using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D modeling as hands-on classroom tools allow teachers to go beyond textbook learning.
Instructing students to investigate and control digital landscapes, design and create physical shapes, and mimic the work of engineers, architects, and manufacturers not only improves digital and technology literacy, but prepares students for various STEM careers.
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After many colleagues expressed a desire to weave transformative technology into their lesson plans, MƒA Master Teachers Joseph Buro, Sandra Rossi, and Katie Geraghty designed and ran the MƒA mini-course "Introduction to CAD and 3D Modeling with STEM Career Explorations." During this course, MƒA teachers learned how to create virtual and physical models to help students visualize various concepts, including mathematical transformations and representations in geometry, molecular modeling in chemistry, and buoyancy in physics.
“3D modeling allows students to create virtual representations of their ideas, manipulate them in different ways for testing and examination, and bring these ideas to life via prototype models,” said Geraghty. "CAD skills can be incorporated into group projects where students brainstorm together to generate ideas and collaborate to develop their designs, sharing measurements and specifications and even using shared design spaces within TinkerCAD or other CAD programs."
While learning the basics of CAD, MƒA teachers started creating their own model car designs and advanced to other fun creations throughout each session, including designing turtles, parts of a Rube Goldberg (chain reaction) machine, virtual earthquake tables and sea-level rise models, and making modifications to a hand model for a prosthetics project. Teachers also focused on developing projects that could be adaptable to their classrooms in TinkerCAD and dove into advanced CAD programs like Revit for architectural layouts and Inventor for 3D modeling and assembly.
“Seeing teachers experiment with different techniques, blending their curiosity and personal touch into their designs and project ideas, inspires us to keep leading this course year after year,” said Rossi. “Everyone is smiling, laughing, and eager to show off their designs, reflecting what they can expect to see from their students when they turn-key it back in their schools.”
MƒA Teacher's Life Saved by CAD
MƒA Master Teacher Joseph Buro became an example of his own instruction after receiving concerning news about his health. To better his life and treat a tumor growing on his temple, doctors turned to 3D computer-aided design printing – using 3D renderings from CAT scans to create a 3D model of his skull and a 3D skull graft to implant into his head. After successful recovery, Buro used the scans of his own skull to teach his students 3D modeling in biomedical engineering. In 2022, he shared his story at an MƒA Thursday Thinks event with The Story Collider.