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Students in ɫ����Ƶ’s Department of Education programs spent part of school vacation week teaching kids in grades five  and six to skillfully design objects and bring them to life through 3D printing.

“A lot of these students were in my technology class, where I introduced them to 3D printing,” explained Lane Clarke, Ed.D., associate professor in the Department of Education. “This is a deeper dive for them because now they have to teach it to others. It gives these future teachers skills that they can bring to their classrooms.”

The students spent three days teaching kids at the Portland Boys and Girls club about 3D printing and helping them construct sail boats. On the final they tested out the boats during a regatta.

“The 3D printing program and the ɫ����Ƶ student mentors who lead it, help our members build real world STEM skills and aspirations for the future,” said Bob Clark, Boys and Girls Club chief professional officer. “One of the highest priorities for our programs is to ensure that our members graduate high school with a plan for the future, including pursuit of post-secondary opportunities. ɫ����Ƶ has been a great partner in this effort.”

At the end of the week, ɫ����Ƶ donated several 3D printers to the Boys and Girls Club.

“This is a really a great way to connect ɫ����Ƶ with community organizations like the Boys and Girls Club,” Clarke stated. “We put together our strengths and their needs in a really innovative way.”

ɫ����Ƶ students Katie Silva (Elementary/Middle Education, ’21), Corryn Lachance (Elementary/Middle Education, ’21), Danny Parker (Secondary Education, ’21), Paige Hibbard (Educational Studies, ’20), Eric Ruest (Secondary Education and History, ’21) and Jack Mahoney (Secondary Education, ’21) participated in the mini-camp.

The program was funded by the Perloff Family Foundation and Maine Space Grant Consortium as part of the STEM Technology Ambassador Program.