3D Pens (Blog #4)
You might be wondering, as I did, what are 3D pens? A 3D pen is essentially a handheld version of a 3D printer. It allows the user to draw and create three dimensional objects with plastic. The biggest difference between a pen and a printer is that with the pen, the user guides the printing, instead of a computer. I t takes up less space than a 3D printer and is generally more cost effective. There are so many ways these can be used for learning! Here are a few examples, guided by phases from the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) , developed by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology. 1. Solar System - At the Active Adoption stage, the teacher guides students in using the 3D pen to creat e 2D sketches of some planets . Through Construction Adaptation, the students begin using the 3D pen independently to create sketches of the remaining components of the solar system. They arrange their sketches and label them to create a n accurate diagram. The sam...