Children collected 3d printer

“ - They are very young, they have everything ahead, and we have ahead - only they. "
"Ugly Swans" A. and B. Strugatsky

This news was already mentioned in a previous article, 3d printers. Review of achievements for 2012
I decided to cover this event in more detail.

What childhood would you like to have?
And what kind of education will you provide for your children?
In my opinion, a good example of setting tasks for children.

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16 children from 8 to 12 years old and one teacher, Manuela van den Bos, began to create an Open Source 3d printer in the “Alant” classroom at the “Morning Star” (“De Morgenster”) school in Geldermalsen , the Netherlands.

At first there was a motivating presentation from representatives of Ultimaker.

“The speed at which information spreads is much more important than having information.” Said the evangelist Ultimaker ʻa during a performance in front of children. "Now everyone can contribute to the development of a device for experimentation and for designing objects."

First of all, children drew MindMap :

What is necessary for the implementation of the project:

- A group of children full of enthusiasm (break the group into subgroups (A, B, C, D, E and a little later into F)
- Equally enthusiastic teacher who is focused on the process and can ask leading questions.
- Blackboard and colored crayons (or adequate replacement)
- Ultimaker collection kit
- Awesome set of screwdrivers
- Pouches for small parts
- “The right to make a mistake”: to make mistakes as a necessary part of the learning process (this is the only way to really deal with the subject!)
- One computer per group to read the assembly instructions:
wiki.ultimaker.com/Mechanics_build_guide

Absolutely optional:
- Know the full theory of 3d printers
- be afraid to make a mistake, for you will do them at every turn

The children were divided into groups and each had to put together a certain part of the 3d printer, and at the end of the week they would work together on a common assembly.

Instead of learning from books (and there are no books on 3d printers yet! Approx. Lane) and waiting for instructions from the teacher, the students were given the task to use their hands and head to assemble the entire printer. Now they had to find a solution. In the world of adults there is the word "difficult", but it seems that it is not in the world of children. They got down to business and continued no matter what until they were done.

What did the children learn from this program?
“They learned how to work consistently in a team, how to search and find solutions even from an online resource or by asking a question to a specialist. It was new to them. ”Says Manuela

This is an effective way to ignite children with an idea, infect with curiosity and create a desire to learn new technologies. When they successfully completed the project, they gained self-confidence and self-esteem.

“When the children returned home and told their parents what they knew about the 3d printer and how they built it, while their parents never even saw it. It gave children a charge of positive emotions. ” - adds Manuela.

While most parents still think they know more than their children, the current generation most likely has enough (and sometimes even more! Note) skills when it comes to modern technology.

“Some people think that children can never do this, they are too young. And when they see that we have done this, they have to think about it. ”“ In fact, it’s not even that difficult. ”Said Suus and Joel, students of the“ De Alant ”program.

Manuela was delighted with the work on the project to build a 3d printer with children. “I recommend that all schools start a similar project.”

Film about the project (with English subtitles)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=elp1FeZpqFQ

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