Grant helps construction students learn 3D printing

In addition to framing roofs, hanging drywall, installing windows and assembling Adirondack chairs, the students in the Kennedy Krieger High School Career and Technology Center’s construction trades program are branching into a new, high-tech activity — 3D printing.

The BC&E Foundation facilitated the addition to the curriculum by awarding a $3,748 grant to Kennedy Krieger last year. The grant helped the school acquire Bambu Lab X1-Carbon Combo 3D printers and a variety of filament.

The school provides individualized education plans and career training in one of five industries to about 175 special education students. Adding 3D printing to the construction curriculum both exposes students to a new technology in the industry and provides them with a richer educational experience, said Lindsay Turwy, Principal.

“Our students sometimes need more visual representation when they are learning some concepts. 3D printing turns 2D designs into something more concrete for them,” Turwy said.

In its grant application, the school explained that a 3D printer would help students better understand details of building design and the impact of design choices.

“For example, when exploring the functionality of floor plans, it can be difficult for students to look at a 2D drawing and identify why a door needs to swing a certain way or why a light plate or electric box should or should not be in particular locations in a room. Being able to turn 2D renderings into 3D models with a printer would give students an opportunity to truly conceptualize and understand the functionality of the direction a door swings or why a light plate might be in a certain location.”

For their first 3D printing assignment, students were directed to leverage their architectural design instruction to sketch out the floor plan of a building then input those designs into a software program that would direct the 3D printer.

The students loved the technology, said Adimu Waters, the school’s construction teacher. “They literally saw their inventions come to life. It was a really interesting merger of construction and technology which is the way the business is moving these days anyway.”

The assignment also delivered an unexpected learning outcome.

“The biggest eye opener for us was the precision that had to go into the design process before the printing could come out the way we wanted it,” Waters said. “If you didn’t connect certain lines exactly right in your design, if the measurements were off at all, you had an issue. There was really no room for error.”

The school envisions additional assignments and uses for the 3D printer. For example, the technology could allow students to craft small components for larger projects.

“Combining woodworking and 3D printing would open the door to a more comprehensive set of crafts and skills,” the grant application said. “The students could support not only their own classroom projects, but also the entire school by crafting iPad stands, pencil holders that attach to desks, or other items adapted to the specific needs of students with disabilities.”

Learning 3D printing technology also creates new career opportunities for graduates, Waters said. Construction trades students learn a wide range of core construction skills as they complete units in roofing, drywall and window installation. Some students go on to pursue careers in construction, but some others lack the physical abilities to do those jobs.

By teaching 3D printing and other technologies, Waters said the school aims to provide students with expanded job opportunities.