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During this three hour workshop participants will engage in learning activities that incorporate 3D-printers and accompanying software into math and science education for K-12 students. This technology enables students to design three-dimensional objects using a variety of K-12 appropriate software tools. 3D-printers and accompanying software can help students gain applied understanding of math and science concepts in a context that connects these concepts with real world problem solving. Results from several studies examining implementation of 3D-printers in K-12 classrooms indicate this is a feasible and engaging way to teach students math and science concepts, as well as spark positive attitudes and interest about these subjects. Workshop participants will explore the implications of these studies for K-12 and pre-college engineering education, as well as the numerous opportunities for future grant writing and research studies on this topic. After the workshop, participants will continue to be supported through access to online resources that will help them incorporate 3D-printers into K-12 and pre-college engineering education within both formal and informal settings.
Daniel Tillman, Ph.D., is the director of the Educational Technology Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) as well as an Assistant Professor in Educational Technology teaching advanced multimedia design and diffusion of innovative technologies into K-12 education. He received his doctoral degree in Instructional Technology at The University of Virginia in 2012 under the mentoring of Dr. Glen Bull. While at UVA, he served as a graduate fellow in the Curry School of Education's Center for Technology and Teacher Education and as the office manager for the Dynamic Media Research Laboratory. Prior to entering the Ph.D. program at The University of Virginia, he directed and edited documentary films for eight years. From 2005 to 2012 he served as an adjunct professor at George Mason University, where he taught undergraduate courses in introduction to multimedia, advanced multimedia design, and documentary filmmaking. His current research focuses on the diffusion of technology innovations into K-12 education, physical and digital multimedia in elementary school science and mathematics education, and the STEM career pipeline and mainline.
Peter Malcolm is a lead member of the University of Virginia's "Children Engineering Initiative".