Junior Printing Resource: Original Design Updated

Challenge: To produce a 3D Printed object to assist students to count.

Background: We have been working on this print for some time, looking at ways to use a 3D Printer to create a unique resource to target counting of objects for our junior school.

Our original version of this project featured a caterpillar shape so that the students could focus on the numbers from one to ten.    The next part of the project was to identify a resource that could be used and applied to junior students who were using a number sequence to rote count and skip count in twos, threes and then other number combination.

The teacher concerned had identified some other aspects that she wanted.   With the original numbers from one to ten the caterpillar had a single foot with each segment.   The teacher wanted a pair of feet with the two skip version so that they would be able to count one on one to ensure that the skip counting could be correct.

In the original design the segments were 20mm by 20mm however these of course represented a single digit.  In the two skip count version the segments were 20mm across by their size increased to 30mm allowing the two digit numbers to be displayed.   

The intention is to also produce other skip counting versions in this series - with a three and five of particular focus.    We are now doing to deploy a set of these counting devices next year within a junior (five year old) classroom and have the class and students test and see how robust there is.

Size: The entire two skip counting version measures 290mm across and each of the segments are 30mm high.  There are of course 11 in total (the linking is responsible for additional length and a head is at the start of the caterpillar.    The junior school teacher feels that the size is perfect for the five year old class.

Timeframe: Four hours for the extended version.   We are viewing these prints as long term resources that we are expecting to have a high level of use.  We don't want to make the designs any smaller or less robust than they are and this will also depend on how they last in the classroom.   We believe they will last long term with constant use.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the student: The student who is responsible for doing this design has been constantly refining it under the direction of a (junior) teacher.   They have done an outstanding job of responding to feedback and specific direction from the teacher to resolve any issues that are apparent and to get the design 'right'.   This will be an ongoing project with input from the teacher concerned, the student who has designed the print, and the junior school students involved moving into the testing phase in 2023.

Junior Printing Resource: Original Design

Challenge: To produce a design to assist juniors (five year olds) with their counting.

Background: This process has been detailed on this blog in a series of post, but was finished today and hence the update.

Originally we were looking at using pre-existing prints to create this animal or object.   The criteria was that it needed to be a flexi-animal so it could be manipulated and have the numbers sequenced so that a student could use it as a number line counting tool.   In doing so having used various existing prints caused a challenge - having exactly the right combination of numbers and segments meant we dismissed a number of options.    It was eventually decided to custom make the entire design with a simple theme or idea.   This would allow us to create a number line of any desired length, in addition to using our own design we could target skip counting - that is we could include number sequences that we wanted the students to learn that might not be available on another counting design.   We also wanted it to be robust enough to be constantly handled and moved and manipulated by the students who are extremely young and enthusiastic.

Level of Difficulty: Medium-High, this is another print that involves a level of linking of the print.   This concept while it can be learnt and designed from video is a somewhat challenge for some students (although it has been mastered as noted on this blog by an eleven year old).   

Size: We are currently looking at a design at that is 230mm long is 30mm high and is 5mm in width.   This is looking like it will be the basis for a ten group of numbers.    Further attempts will be made to print to twenty and using doubles to include larger numbers and digits.   This is very much a work in progress which will be subject to the students using and testing the design until it is considered right.

Timeframe: Two and a half hours at present.   This maybe modified to increase the space/size depending on the digits being used but will be used as a base.   

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: Its over to students in our junior school to work out where to next with this design and to ensure that it works.   We will be 'road testing' it in our junior school, getting feedback from the students and teachers and modifying it as a result.

3D Printed Junior Counting Resource: Nearly there....

 

We have replaced the scales that were part of the top of the crocodile scales as this meant the numbers were less than visible, the solution was to remove the scales to allow the numbers to stand out.

The design has otherwise gone through only a small level of change.   The idea is for rote counting to five and ten, starting with the crocodile.

The numbers have also been enlarged with a bigger font and one that goes to the edge of the print.

This was the original attempt without the removal of the scales.

A key issue is looking at how robust the print will be with the numbers so close to edges.  Our solution to this is have the target audience (which in this case is five year old children) to test and test this print to ensure that it works, that they enjoy using it and it can last.

We are currently unsure about using spray paint to change the colour of the print.  As it is going to be something that is frequently handled it is anticipated that this is not necessary.

The print is still coming in at around the two hour mark.

The linking has already been recreated from an original design that we located on the Thingiverse website.

It is our anticipation that this range of counting material will be successfully printed within the coming days.

Using 3D Printers to Make Targeted Counting Resources: Counting

Challenge: To produce an active manipulated 3D Print that juniors in the school could use to help with their counting.

Background: As mentioned our students recently ran a business day/marketing day and as a result there was considerable exposure to some of our students 3D Printing throughout the community and our school.  One of the unexpected off shoots of the flexi-animals is that there appeared to be an obvious direction to go in using them to assist with rote counting for junior students (that is students who were as young as five.

Our starting point on this project was using a range of animals that we had previous experience in where we knew the prints would be linked and robust and allow repeated handling.   The challenge was to combine this and something that the junior school teacher would then be happy to use - and wonderfully the teacher concerned has so far asked the students to refine their designs repeatedly.    The teacher is looking for a base ten and five animal but has stressed the importance of the uniformity of the segments of the animal, thus in the example shown left the slug, which had previously worked as an animal only had four segments that were equal size.  The students applied the fifth segment as the tail but it was smaller than the others and the teacher asked for a redesign.

A quick redesign of the slug saw the number five dropped further into the base design.   The students have quickly identified that the numbers will need to be sunk into the design as if they are raised above the design that will be susceptible to being knocked off over time.    A reprint saw the 'five' clearly visible however the teacher strongly felt that the print needed equal segments and asked for a redesign.  A similar fault was found with the bat shown above.   The design was received positively by the test group (ie a group of five year old students at our school) however the teacher who is ultimately going to use the design felt that the body of the bat and the subsequent gap that it presented would prove to be a barrier for the students using the number line to count.   Putting a number in this location meant the number was not suitable either.   The students are moving in the direction of creating a specific item or animal to meet the teachers brief and using the assistance of the student whose work we have featured extensively on this blog.

While the 'counting crocodile design, featured left had the students showing some promise the teacher, while happy with the amounts of segments that were presented (five) was not happy with the texture that was produced by the scales of the crocodile.   They felt that by having the numbers combined with them that they were less visible that if the back was plain and therefore it was not suitable as the counting tool.

Again we cannot say enough positive things about the fact that this teacher is challenging the students to refine and problem solve their design and look at making directed improvements.   It is an excellent learning experience and one that is making the students think critically and redesign their work.

Level of Difficulty: Medium - High.   This project is making something that has a specific purpose requiring specific dimensions and details.   While the prototypes shown in these examples are generic (ie designed from Thingiverse that are freely available) the students are almost certainly going to need to design their own range of linking animals.   The teacher would also like specific skip counting designs such as counting in twos.   This will require a group to make design challenges to meet the brief.

Size:   While there is various current designs in this process, this has been prior to testing to ensure they are printed at a size that suits the (junior) students.  The current slug (which has been enlarged for the numbers) is 150mm long and 20mm across.   The counting crocodile is currently 140mm long, 20mm wide and 15mm high.   The counting bat is currently the largest of the units, being 160mm long, 100 mm high and is 5mm thick.   Again all these sizes are based around getting the numbers correct with a view to counting in blocks of five or ten - once the teacher who is checking is happy with the product.

Timeframe: The slug being the smallest is coming in with a print time of just over one hour.   The crocodile currently is two hours while the bat being the largest is currently just over four.

What we would do differently/next steps for students:   Until the teacher who wants the manipulative created is happy this project will be ongoing.   As mentioned the best aspect is that the teacher has not been happy and has been constantly wanting refinement and improvement.

Ongoing 3D Projects: General Items for the End of 2022

As we are working towards the end of the school year in New Zealand we have a group of students who are working on several different projects at once.   This is a brief roundup of what some of the students in our classroom are currently working on.

Once again we have had a look at working within our local community to produce items that are specific to local businesses or local groups.   We've done this extensively in the past and some of our creations have been used for several years by local businesses/organisations as the PLA has maintained its shape despite three or four years of being handled and used.   This is part of a design for a local tractor contracting business which will be eventually turned into a key ring with the business logo slightly refined and a hole included with the design.   There is some thought to the colour combination and refining the design but this is proving to be a positive experience for everyone involved.  The projected print time will be in the three hour mark for the fully finished product.

Regular followers of this blog will be aware that we are usually reluctant to print freely available models unless there are special circumstances or we can see it leading into other projects.  In this case the dragon was located via Thingiverse.  In its current form it came out as a single print, which took an eight hour job on the regular settings.   The student who printed this wanted to increase its presentation by looking at its decoration.  It has been spray painted and small little details have been added to the eyes.   The student was to increase the colour combinations with the print, including putting gold detail.  There is the potential for other related prints to tie into this project.

The designs in this project have come again from Thingiverse, however there is an exception - in this case the deign has been altered.  As part of our detailed market day project, where our students ran various businesses,  many featuring 3D printed designs, one of the junior school teachers identified the potential to have the animals modified to help as a resource with rote counting.

The addition of the numbers in the base of the slugs is a simple tasks, the intention is to use the slugs for junior students to help with their counting.   We are currently meeting with our junior teachers to ensure that the blocks or segments on the base of the slug fits the counting expectations of the classroom.   We are able to replicate the segments of the slugs to include larger numbers.