The advent of 3-D printing, and it’s increasing uses in all aspects of our daily lives, has helped to herald a new frontier for the manufacturing industry. From bicycle parts to surgical tools and jet mechanisms  to home décor, the use of 3-D printing has meant less materials and waste, not to mention man-power and cost. As the technology continues to grow in use around the globe, the students of Highlands Middle School and High School are learning early-on how it works, how it can be utilized, and how to use it for creations right there in the classroom. 

“The idea really came from wanting to give my Engineering 1 students the ability to take something they designed on the computer and actually make it,” says Highlands Middle School engineering teacher  John Warford. “We spend a lot of time working with AutoCAD and the engineering design process, so 3D printing is a natural extension of that. Students can design a part, print it, test it, find out what doesn’t work, make changes to their design, and try again. That process of designing, building, testing, and improving is at the heart of what engineering is.”

During the process of applying for a grant for the materials through the Fort Thomas Education Foundation, Warford thought through the type of technology which would be most beneficial for his students and explained in the grant how the equipment would help to enhance the source material of his classwork. “FTEF made it possible for me to pursue equipment that would otherwise be a significant challenge to purchase through a classroom or department budget,” Warford explains. “Having an organization that is willing to invest in classroom innovation makes a tremendous difference for teachers.”

One of the benefits of introducing technology like the 3-D printers is the exposure it gives students to groundbreaking equipment at a young age, building a familiarity in them – rather than having to learn advanced materials later in high school or even at the college level.

The high school engineering classrooms as well received a 3-D printer, which will help to piggy-back off the middle school exposure when students advance to higher grades and use the same equipment.

Warford feels like the work of the FTEF provides opportunities for teachers to pursue more in-depth avenues of classwork than might be available otherwise. “There are a lot of great ideas teachers have for their classrooms, but the cost of equipment can sometimes be the biggest obstacle to making those ideas a reality,” says Warford. “Support from an organization like FTEF helps remove that obstacle and allows teachers to bring opportunities to students that might otherwise be out of reach. Just as importantly, it sends a message to teachers and students that the community believes in what is happening in our classrooms. Knowing that people outside the school are willing to invest in our students and their education is incredibly meaningful.”