The Cutting Edge 3D Printing Project:

Last fall the Perloff Family Foundation donated three 3D printers to MapleStone. Since then we have been working to integrate this new resource into our programming for all students. Environmental Science instructor Scott Hart has taken the lead, featuring 3D printing regularly in his “block” programming for all MapleStone students. We are very pleased with our progress and we have already seen some remarkable work and very positive results.

It is clear that 3D printing capacity will provide a powerful, creative, sustainable leverage point for student engagement and learning at MapleStone. Every student will utilize the 3D Printer to support his or her individualized learning path with innovative opportunities that have not previously existed for them. Our students are not traditional learners. 3D Printing opens up a wide variety of non-traditional, experiential, purpose-driven learning opportunities within which our students will be able to experience success.

With 3D printing as an instructional methodology, MapleStone instructors will be able to help students utilize and develop their skills in problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and computation within projects that are highly personalized, creative and meaningful. Furthermore, 3D Printing will support students’ development of their spatial and artistic intelligence abilities, areas within which many of our students are highly capable. And last but not least, this will be a high value project for our students because they will find the work fun and exciting. We anticipate improved attendance, behavior and academic achievement.