There are so many great technologies out there which can value-add or even transform classroom projects like 3D printers, CNC mills and Laser cutters. Problem is, many teachers and many school don't have access to these or can't afford the capital to invest in them, despite the value of them to student learning and overseas educational trends.
Scalextric 4 Schools (http://www.scalextric.com/scalextric-4-schools/) is a great example of what you can do with this technology in the classroom. Combining CAD design with the technology to produce custom slot cars to race against other schools! Only thing is you need a CNC mill to make a car body mold from your CAD drawing, a vacuum former to make the body from the mold, a vinyl cutter to decorate it and a laser cutter to produce the chassis! A great design, prototype and evaluation process like many in the real world of industry.
Easy part of getting into this is buying the track... The cost of this wonderful technology makes a very valuable unit of work out of reach for most schools, so it gets put in the too hard basket.
This is where you can get by with a little help from your friends...
I managed to run this task this year with my Year 10 Industrial Technology Engineering class, without any of these whizz-bang bits of gear:
- I used twitter to source a 3D printing file from a UK Technology teacher that produced an alternative chassis for slot cars(friend #1, thanks Becky Jane @BJ_Ram28). For these we made cardboard net bodies that the students could give liveries before printing. A great chassis for testing, but too time consuming to print a class set.
- I made my own vacuum former based on some designs I had seen in Youtube clips like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMbX3bqfzsk (friend #2... kinda)
- We hand made positive moulds for our car bodies to suit the S4S laser cut chassis. No CNC mills or routers here!
- I hit another school up for a favour and they laser cut a class set of acrylic S4S chassis for us (friend #3, Thanks Ruth and the crew @ Bossley Park HS).
OK, so our cars weren't as flash as the others you see online, but the Year 10s were engaged and we all had a great time. Pretty sure we learnt some things along the way too...!
Generally teachers (and especially Technology teachers) are a great bunch who are willing to help each other out. Don't put off or rule something out, ask around, get on social media or get in touch with your professional association and make it happen!
Lucky we had a little help from my friends...
Matt @mattrix2000
