Campus On/Or About
TECHNOLOGY ABOUNDS ON CAMPUS (continued) Students in the Middle School have been using a 3-D printer called Makerbot Cupcake CNC that was built two years ago by art instructor Matthew Vanek and several students. This printer takes a 3D model from the computer and prints it layer by layer in ABS plastic (the plastic that LEGO® bricks are made from). The seventh-grade art class just finished a project in which the students created board games entirely on the computer. The 3D “pawns” were created in a CAD program and printed in plastic and the game boards were created in Photoshop and mounted to foam core board. The high school students also use the printer, but for projects that are more mechanical in nature. The implementation of technology throughout the Lower, Middle and Upper School is a win-win for all involved. The students are more engaged in learning. According to third grader, Mollie Edmondson, the websites, activities and modules “make learning more fun.” These supplements allow teachers to hone in on their students, addressing weaknesses and providing extra challenges as needed, making learning much more personalized.
Natalie Doe ’13 using a Vernier Melt-Station attached to a Vernier Labquest to determine the melting point of the acetylsalicylic acid she synthesized in the chemistry lab.
Art instructor Matt Vanek and seventh graders Nikhil Nair and Cameron Landis using the 3-D printer
34