Lillian Groth

UNIV200

Section 006

 

 

            As technology grows and advances in this digital age, we have been able to improve the tools and learning aids used for educational purposes. 3D printers are a relatively new form of technology that slowly making its way into classrooms across the United States. They have become especially prevalent in colleges and can be particularly helpful for college biology courses. The students taking these classes will be able to learn modern skills and obtain knowledge about 3D printing that will help them further in their career for example being able to print organs and further examine living tumors. They will be able to experience hands-on learning, which is important for biology students, some of whom are going into the medical field. Being able to use this kind of technology gets students excited about learning and to use their creativity while learning about biology will enhance their own personal connections to the material. 3D printing can also be accessible and helpful to all types of students. 3D printing will further enrich the learning environment of college biology students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3D printer at VCU Innovative Media Center in the library

 

                For many biology students who plan on going into the medical after school, learning how to use a 3D printer could become a very useful skill. Medical schools have begun teaching this kind of technology because there have already been several successful cases of printing organs, tumors, prosthetics. In the 2013 NMC Report, a report conducted by the New Media Consortium, who track new technology in education, it is stated that, "In medical schools, rapid prototyping has been helping participants produce anatomical models based on the images from MRIs and CAT scans. Doctors are able to better strategize surgeries when exploring these models.”(Johnson 29) For students to already be studying this technology and actually creating important products is amazing and progressive. 3D models will become such a useful learning aid for medical students because they will be able to practice and really study a person's body before surgery. The report continues to say, “Medical schools and programs are also in the process of building artificial body parts. Scientists at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, for example, are using human cells to 3D print artificial liver tissue for laboratory use, which could ultimately make the testing of new drugs more efficient and reliable than traditional methods by using human organ models instead of live animals.” (Johnson 29) Creating tumors and living tissue is a great example of hands-on learning because students are able to work with organs without potentially causing harm to a living person. Educators and professors will be able to work side by side students as they work on and improve technonlogy that will revolutionize the medical field. Britt Faulstick, reports of Drexel’s professors printing tumors, “They will work to print tumors composed of multiple different cells –a trait often found in those removed from cancer patients. In addition, the group is working on ways to attach the models to tissues and vasculature that they’ve printed, which would recreate the way tumors grow in their bodily habitat.” (Faulstick 1) This is definitely the future of medicine; the fact that we will eventually not have to test on humans or animals is very advanced. This is why students should be learning this technology. Students now are going to eventually be the current doctors, surgeons, researchers and medical professionals. As of now, it would be useful and proactive to learn 3D printing, but I believe one day it will become a necessary skill.

                 Hands-on learning is an important part of knowledge retention and the ability to touch and feel a 3D model would create a better understanding of the student's studies. On the topic of 3D printing in academics, Hod Lipson, from the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University states, “A study of knowledge retention showed that only about 20% of knowledge is retained when only abstract conceptualization is involved, but as much as 90% of is retained when the concrete experience is involved.” (Lipson 2) Knowledge retention is  significantly important in college because a large portion of the material you learn, you may need as a basis for your future career.  Hands-on learning is an important reason why 3D printing in college courses would be successful. To actually be able to create and touch models and figures would elevate learning in the classroom. Lipson also mentions how this could change the way education has been mass-customized, meaning classes nationwide have become too similar no matter who’s in the classroom learning.  “But rapid prototyping can go beyond just reviving traditional model making – it can provide new opportunities through mass customization. While traditionally the lengthy design and fabrication process of a teaching model required that educators choose among a fixed repertoire of models, on-demand printing allows for these models to be adjusted to fit a personally-customized curriculum.” (Lipson 1) 3D printing presents the possibility to create a more personalized environment, which is important for students because not everyone learns the same way. While some students may not need 3D models, it could be noticably beneficial for others. For Ben King, an associate professor of chemistry at DeLaMare tells of his experience teaching, "For example, one of the very hard things about teaching chemistry is explaining that molecules have shape," King said. "This basically removes that obstacle ... so it will change how we teach chemistry and how we look at molecules on a daily basis. It's also just plain fun." Dr Jennifer Loy, who runs the 3D Design major at Griffith University suggests, “In the design studio, 3D printing fundamentally reconnects students to objects and the reality of their work, which is topical as one of the most significant issues for design in higher education over the last ten years has been the breakdown of traditional studio practice [7] and the fragmentation of process.” (Loy 1). Loy points out what the author finds wrong with the current education system and offers 3D printing studios as a solution. Connecting students to their work will further interest students in their courses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My question for Eric Johnson, head of Innovative Media at VCU

 

                  3D printing gets students excited about learning. Being able to use their creativity while learning about biology will enhance their own personal connections to the material because they will find pride and enthusiasm in making their own creations. Vincent F. Scalfani, a Science and Engineering Librarian and Josh Sahib, a Distance Education Librarian, both at the University of Alabama conducted a study on 3D printing use in their library and claim,  “User response to the availability of 3D printing has been high. In just two months, approximately 50 users have been trained through a combination of six workshops. The users came from various departments such as Art, Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and English.”  50 people may not seem like much when you think about the number of people attending large universities, but the authors cite later in the study that this was all through word of mouth. So, to have a solid 50 people from all backgrounds of study be interested in training to learn 3D printing, is significant to note.  Sahib and Scalfini also took note of how students reacted to the printing and the training for it. “Observations after the training workshops have been overwhelmingly positive, new 3D users enjoyed the workshop and felt it was very informative. One suggestion relayed by users was they wanted to observe more 3D printed samples during the workshop.” (Sahib 1) I believe interest and excitement should always play a part in learning and education. This is how students become captivated with their work and learn to enjoy their classes. It can also help lead to interest in future careers and paths of study.  It means a lot to students to be able to unlock their creativity and create things in the classroom. Pedro Reis, an assistant professor of mechanical, civil and environmental engineering at MIT voice his experience with students,  "When you look at some of the crazy 3D objects that students come up with, you can't help but just go, 'Wow,'" Reis said. "It really empowers them and opens up their imagination. It opens up a completely new door for them to express their ideas." (Jason Hidalgo 1) After looking for 3D printers at VCU, I came across an article by Ashley McCuistion, a previous student and Digital Curator for the Virtual Curation Laboratory at VCU. McCuistion mentions “digital scholarship” which is “a means of applying technology to what we learn in the classroom, and thus creating a more dynamic and stimulating learning environment.” McCuistion worked a lot in the Archeology field and used 3D printing. She reports how this technology has “tremendous potential” in her field as well as commenting on 3D printing in education as a whole, “Students from across the university are constantly finding new ways to utilize technology to benefit their education, which will undoubtedly enrich the learning experience of all who attend our school.” (McCuistion 1). McCuistion makes a good point when she says students are "constantly finding new ways to utilize technology". Students are becoming independent in their quest to use technology in education. Many current students grew up with computers and cameras and we've seen it all transform into the advanced technology we see today. So, not only are students comfortable with a lot of the technology out there, but they are always looking for newer technology to use in their day to day life as well as their academic career. Whether it's using an iPhone to record a class lecture or using a 3D printed model to assist a presentation, this type of technology can elevate learning and education.

                 Another important feature of 3D printing is that it can be accessible and helpful to all types of students. Many colleges that are setting up 3D printing stations are making it easy for any students or faculty members to be able to use the printers. It usually costs nothing or little to nothing for printing jobs and it’s common for the printers to be located in the school’s library, so any student can be able to find and use it. When discussing how the location of the 3D printer affected user response, Scalfini and Sahib say, “Locating the 3D Printing Studio in a central, open access area within the UA Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering has contributed greatly to the success of the 3D Printing Studio. Whenever the 3D printer is running, or workshops are in session, potential new users are attracted to the open space which greatly adds to interest in the 3D printing Studio.” (Sahib 1) Another reason 3D printers can be more accessible to everyone is there are now lower priced options. The NMC reports that, “Relatively affordable at under $2,500, the MakerBot has brought 3D printing to the masses; the technology had previously only been found in specialized labs.” (Johnson 28) This idea that 3D printing can be affordable means that more colleges will be able to afford these machines and maybe even some high schools. One of the coolest and most useful reasons 3D printers are a source for many different students is that its creations can help visually impaired students learn. Hod Lipson claims, “Less severe but more pervasive and more difficult to diagnose are students with visual spatial perception learning disabilities [32]; these students have difficulty perceiving spatial concepts from 2D pictures or descriptions, and benefit directly from hands-on manipulation.” (Hod Lipson 2) The fact that 3D printing could help students with visual disabilities is a huge advantage. Websites offering free downloadable models are also making this technology more open to educators. Mary E. Knapp, Ryan Wolff, Hod Lipson professors at Cornell University wrote, “For-profit sites also host large collections of models. The aim of this website is to collect and create educational models in one location to give educators easy access to a broad selection of free models.” (Knapp 5) Websites are being created specifically for education and 3D printing. These sites give teachers access to models that they would print out and use when teaching. This may make 3D printing more accessible if educators have free models at their fingertips. The National Institute of Health has also released a free model program for all types of medical models, from molecules to pieces of the human skeleton. The point of this service is to allow researchers from different fields access, no matter their experience with 3D printing. Darrel Hurt, head of Computational Biology within the Bioinformatics of the National Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the brain behind this free model project, told the authors of the article this of 3D printing, "Of course computer algorithms are good, but people are very good at pattern recognition. It's an alternative way to both get some human intuition, and a way to teach and communitcate." (Berry 1) This quote reminded me so much of the theme of our class. The duo of the human mind and new media and the result that is created from this combination. This idea is how I came up with my topic and I love that it really came through in my sources. 3D printing is a true form of both human and computer working together to make educational, useful and potentially, life-changing creations.

                 As I was researching my project, I came to the realization that I may have access to a 3D printer myself. I began searching for 3D printing in Richmond and I actually found a couple shops that print things for you for a certain amount. It then struck me that VCU might have one, even though I’d heard nothing of it. Turns out, there are a couple around campus. There is one in the Graphic Design department, I leanred from someone in the writing center that there is one in the engineering department, and then after some emailing, I found out the library just got one early this summer. I started emailing with Eric Johnson, the head of Innovative Media on the 3rd floor of the VCU Cabell Library. He let me know what I could print, how long it would take and sent some links of free model sites. I met with him on Wednesday, July 23, 14 to discuss how the process will work and to confirm what models I wanted to create.  I was able to see the printer and some of the creations other students and professors had made. I learned about how the objects are created with melted plastic a layer at a time, which is why it can take so long. I went back to the Innovative Media center, that Friday and began my 3D printing project. Eric Johnson showed me how to find files that the printer could use. Like I mentioned earlier in my paper, there are websites with free downloadable models other people have created. I chose an anatomical heart model from a site called Thingiverse. Then we opened the file on a program for 3D printing, which let the user move, resize and view the object from different directions. We then sent the file to the printer, just like you would do with any paper you were printing. The process is definitely a long one. The color I wanted to use was then loaded into the printer and it had to begin its heating period. We had a few technical difficulties, but once those were fixed, the printer began printing my heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          I eventually came back a little early, and was able to see the inside honeycomb design, a technique used to avoid using too much plastic, but still sturdy enough to hold up the shape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I came back 30 minutes later, my heart was completed and ready to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was really lightweight and pretty detailed for being layered plastic. Everyone I told about my creation didn't know anything about 3D printers at VCU, but were really amazed with my little red heart. I believe the 3D printer in our library will be a huge hit with the students.

               3D printing has already begun to revolutionize so many different fields of study and it’s slowly on its way into classrooms. Many biology college students would benefit incredibly from having access to such equipment. They would be able to study the skills needed to work and understand the machine, setting them up for success, should they ever need it in their future medical careers. This technology will also get them excited and interested in the information they are studying. And for them to be able to print living tissue that may one day benefit another person is rewarding let alone amazing. 3D printing can become apart of hands-on learning in class and really connect students to their work. And now that it’s slowly become a norm in high education, more students are going to have access to these printers. Creating a learning environment of excitement and intrigue, incorporating touch and creativity will only serve to benefit students all across the country.