[Campus Technology]

Schenberger is an assistant professor in mechanical engineering at theUniversity of Portland; Meadows is an associate professor in curriculum and instruction, teaching pre-service science teachers, at the University of Mary Washington. But they have something in common: They’re both enamored of their MakerBot Industries 3D printers for what the devices can do in helping educate students. …

But it’s not the ability to replicate the inventory of a dollar store that has Meadows so intrigued. He’s more interested in the impact the MakerBot printer could have in elementary science education.

He’ll be teaching a course in the fall, “Elementary Science Methods,” to pre-service teachers. As part of that he’ll be introducing them to the inclusion of engineering in their science lessons. As a result of theNational Research Council developing a national framework for K-12 science standards, he says, “One of the things that’s happening in science education is that there’s a big emphasis on including engineering in science classes.”

3D printing fits well, Meadows explains, in a scenario where the student is “designing something, testing it, learning, recording information, going back and redesigning. It’s really a great way to do problem solving.”  …

The fascination instructors have with the MakerBot recalls an era when humans did more for themselves, muses Meadows. “Like we used to do with our cars. You’d go in and take things apart and fix things. With computerization it’s difficult to do that. Now we’re getting back to the idea of making something, building something, testing it, fiddling around with it, and rebuilding it. It goes back to that hands-on DIY ethic.”  …

Read the full story here: http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2012/02/21/Making-Stuff-3D-Printing-on-Campus.aspx?Page=1