Very interesting article

I found the article “Engineering Encounters: Creating a Prosthetic Hand” by Kristin Leigh Cook, Sarah B. Bush, and Richard Cox very interesting. This article discusses how one teacher, Mr. S... See More

I found the article “Engineering Encounters: Creating a Prosthetic Hand” by Kristin Leigh Cook, Sarah B. Bush, and Richard Cox very interesting. This article discusses how one teacher, Mr. Smith, used a 3D printer to teach his students but also change the life of a young girl. Over the course of six weeks, Mr. Smith’s students designed, built, and printed a prosthetic hand and arm to help this girl with her school related tasks. In week one, Mr. Smith wanted to make sure his students understood the impact their work would be making. Mr. Smith asked his fourth grade students to complete tasks around the school as if they were only one handed. When students saw how difficult this was, they developed empathy and felt more of a purpose for this project. Week two was used for guided research. Students were divided into two groups to come up with designs. Each student researched and designed what they believed would be the best design for a prosthetic arm on their own and then each team picked the best design to present to everyone. In week three, blue prints were created for the prosthetic arm designs. Students were given prompts and a website, Tinkercad, to assist them with their blueprint designs. Week four, students were asked to make a supply list and Mr. Smith went and bought the materials the students needed. Students used their materials to build a prototype. During this phase, students self-evaluated their prototypes with a rubric to make improvements towards the end goal. During week five, each group presented their ideas to a panel consisting of their classmates, principal, district technology integration specialist, and other teachers. Together the groups decided what ideas worked and merged into one group with these ideas. In the final week, the prosthetic hand and arm was made. I think that as a teacher, I would love to do something like this because it provided a memorable learning experience for students and helped someone in the community with a real life problem.

3D printing technology with fourth-grade students

This article explains how one teacher employed 3D printing technology with fourth-grade students in a STEM lab to design and create a prosthetic hand. The teacher of this article shows this ... See More

This article explains how one teacher employed 3D printing technology with fourth-grade students in a STEM lab to design and create a prosthetic hand. The teacher of this article shows this project over the course of six weeks with procedures as follows: building empathy and defining a purpose, guided research, creating a blueprint, building the prototype, public relations, and finalizing the design. What’s more, the 3D printer can provide an authentic opportunity to engage students in the design and engineering process. While if the teacher doesn’t have access to a 3D printer, the teacher and students can still incorporate the research and design aspects of the unit in their classroom and then locate the nearest 3D printer to their school through the online digital design site. I enjoyed reviewing this article because I found that “this STEM experience modeled interdisciplinary learning that is authentic, real-life, and which addresses a local need while simultaneously addressing standards found in the NGSS and CCSSO” (2010). The teacher motivated the students to learn 3D printer knowledge, and students participated in this project as a class, and they felt like an integral part of the important mission with which they were tasked. Also, the project was divided into six weeks, and students looked forward to their time each day in the lab, at the end of this project, students can feel a sense of achievement which inspired students more willing to learn new technologies. Cook, K., Bush, S., & Cox, R. (2015). Engineering encounters: Creating a prosthetic hand. Science and Children, 53(4).

Reflection

I totally agree with you that it is an advanced technology and will improve human life. And obviously, you read this article very carefully and thoroughly. Within 6 weeks, students have done... See More

I totally agree with you that it is an advanced technology and will improve human life. And obviously, you read this article very carefully and thoroughly. Within 6 weeks, students have done this task and finally produced the 3D printing. This activity I believe students will never forget due to lasting so long and gaining experiment experiences. But, after reading this activity, I'm still baffled by the 3D printing and the process of the activity. I don't get the connection between observing their behavior that imitate acting with only one arm and the 3D printing.