Purposes, Limitations, and Applications of 3D Printing in Minnesota Public Schools Amy Fettig St
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St. Cloud State University theRepository at St. Cloud State Culminating Projects in Information Media Department of Information Media 5-2017 Purposes, Limitations, and Applications of 3D Printing in Minnesota Public Schools Amy Fettig St. Cloud State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/im_etds Recommended Citation Fettig, Amy, "Purposes, Limitations, and Applications of 3D Printing in Minnesota Public Schools" (2017). Culminating Projects in Information Media. 12. https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/im_etds/12 This Starred Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Information Media at theRepository at St. Cloud State. It has been accepted for inclusion in Culminating Projects in Information Media by an authorized administrator of theRepository at St. Cloud State. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Purposes, Limitations, and Applications of 3D Printing in Minnesota Public Schools by Amy Fettig A Starred Paper Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of St. Cloud State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Information Media March, 2016 Starred Paper Committee: Dr. Marcia Thompson, Chairperson Dr. Merton Thompson Dr. Kenneth Miller 1 Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ...............................................................................................................4 Chapter Page 1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................5 Context and Background................................................................................5 Problem Statement .........................................................................................8 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................8 Definitions of Terms .....................................................................................9 Conclusion .....................................................................................................11 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ..........................................................................................12 Introduction ....................................................................................................12 Review Methodology .....................................................................................12 Open Source ...................................................................................................13 Educational Technology ................................................................................15 Maker Movement ...........................................................................................17 Issues and Challenges ....................................................................................19 Policy and Application ...................................................................................20 Gaps in Research............................................................................................21 Conclusion .....................................................................................................21 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...............................................................................22 Introduction ....................................................................................................22 Objectives ......................................................................................................22 2 Chapter Page Survey Methodology ......................................................................................23 Timeline .........................................................................................................24 Significance....................................................................................................24 Summary ........................................................................................................24 4. FINDINGS .................................................................................................................26 Introduction ....................................................................................................26 Response Rate ................................................................................................26 Demographics ................................................................................................26 Access and Ownership ...................................................................................27 Multidisciplinary Benefits .............................................................................28 Selection and Use ...........................................................................................29 Conclusion .....................................................................................................30 5. CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................31 Introduction ....................................................................................................31 Discussion of Results .....................................................................................32 Limitations .....................................................................................................33 Implications for Educators and Administrators .............................................34 Recommendations for Further Research ........................................................34 Sharing Research Results ...............................................................................35 Personal Reflection ........................................................................................35 Conclusion .....................................................................................................36 3 References ........................................................................................................................37 Appendix A. 3D Design and Printing Applications ..............................................................43 Appendix B. Survey Questions ............................................................................................44 Appendix C. Survey Cover Letter .......................................................................................46 Appendix D. Institutional Review Board Approval ............................................................47 Appendix E. Survey Results ..............................................................................................48 4 List of Figures Figure Page 1.1. Google Search Trend Lines ..........................................................................................5 4.1. Student Grade Levels .....................................................................................................27 4.2. Student Population ........................................................................................................27 4.3. 3D Printer Access .........................................................................................................28 4.4. 3D Printing Barriers ......................................................................................................28 4.5. Discipline Application Rankings ..................................................................................29 4.6. 3D Printer Types ...........................................................................................................29 4.7. 3D Printing Design & Software ....................................................................................30 4.8. 3D Printing Curriculum ................................................................................................30 5 Chapter One: Introduction Introduction It was not long ago that the concept of three-dimensional (3D) printing, additive manufacturing by industrial terminology, was reserved for the rapid prototyping field of engineering and production. Interest in 3D printing, however, has grown dramatically over the past few years, (See Figure 1.1) a change set in motion in part through the expiration of patents (Schoffer, 2016). The process of 3D printing has three basic components: computer assisted (i.e. digital) design, machine equipment, and an added material. This chapter contains background to the world of 3D printing, how it can be utilized in education, and the objective and significance of wide-ranging research into selection practices. Figure 1.1: Google Search Trend Lines Context and Background At the inception of personal computers, it was unfathomable that every home would one day own a personal computer let alone have 1:1 initiatives for iPads or Chromebooks in many K- 12 schools. Today, the 3D printing industry is a burgeoning technology field that has similarly scaled down from massive, expensive machines to desktop models available to many consumers. 6 There are a multitude of do-it-yourself kits and open source software available competing with commercialized all-in-one products. Choices abound as new ways of 3D printing are developed and more and more product designers create innovative projects and materials. 3D printing processes include Fused Deposition Modeling™/a.k.a. Fused Filament Fabrication (FDM/FFF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Stereolithography (SLA™), Selective Deposition Lamination (SDL) and Polyjet printing. Currently, the most affordable filament/extrusion based machines