This week's TechTalk focuses on a new technology revolutionising education: the 3D pen. A 3D pen is basically a mechanical pen that extrudes heated plastic through a nozzle. The technology was developed in 2017 and has been slowly adopted by students at numerous higher education institutions. Researchers are now investigating the students at primary and high school and the benefits to their creativity when it comes to applying prior knowledge and using it multi-sensory by being able to see in her 3D the graphs and objects that the student is drawing.
Dousay and Weible (2019) conducted a group case study of nine students with varying levels of creativity in applying mathematics to problem-solving questions. As a result, the 3D pen turned out to be an exciting learning application. Each student reported that their unique approach improved their creativity in answering the questions given. So the takeaway from this study is that 3D pens support any application in math, no matter how creative a student is or what their skill level is.
Ng and Sinclair (2018) tackled the challenge of understanding the changes that 3D drawing brings to students' thinking, learning, and behaviour. This paper supported Dousay and Weible (2019) point by solidifying that this technology allows student to think of answers for problems in different ways of thinking and the ability to draw and see shapes. The image (right) shows a potential way to introduce 3D pens in a mathematical lesson, it shows a sheet of squares when together make house and a teacher could ask students to calculate the area of permitter of the house they built. Also, the image illustrates the possibility in making 3D shapes and students could be challenges to make the biggest or smallest possible 3D shapes.
Aspiring student teachers may wonder how important this is to the chidr . Looking at the mathematics syllabus, items Ma3-2WM, MA3-3W, and Ma3-11Mg describe problem-solving techniques teachers hope to teach to their students, making sure they can verbally explain how they got to that answer (NESA, 2019). Applying this to primary schools, incorporating this technology into 3D shape unit allows for a multi-sensory approach, allowing students to understand how these shapes are drawn and how they work; these can be found a website called Scribbler where there other layouts that can be used (supplied in EDUC 3620 tutorial source link unknown).
That is it for this weeks TechTalk , tune in next week for the new technology :)
Works Cited
Dousay, T. Weible, J.. (2019). Build-A-Bug Workshop: Designing a Learning Experience with Emerging Technology to Foster Creativity. TechTrend.
NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). (2012). Mathematics K–10 Syllabus. NSW Curriculum.
Ng, O. L., Sinclair, N. (2018). Drawing in Space: Doing Mathematics with 3D Pens.
Mar 09
Hi Imijin! You have done a great job on our blog! I found your blog post very easy to navigate and read—a well-thought-out process of explaining the 3D pen and its features to foster creativity. I have never used a 3D pen, and I have only seen others trying out the technology, this has given me such an insight into just how much you can create with the pen. What especially stood out for me, was the study found in 2018, about how 3D foster creativity in mathematics and demonstrates a better understanding to rethink long-standing assumptions and dichotomies. My only suggestion would be to include a video of the 3D pen in use to be able to…
Hi Imijin,
I loved reading through your blog post- so interesting! You have a really strong discussion of 3D pens written in an academic style easily understood by teachers, emerging educators and probably the public. I personally would follow this blog to learn more about emerging technologies and their use in the classroom. My like others who have engaged with your blog I think a video, demonstrating the use of this technology would be very beneficial to show people like myself who have never used one, exactly how they are used. This would also allow teachers to understand if student fine motor skills are developed enough for a task like the ‘volume house’ you explained.
Overall i thoroughly…
Hi Imijin,
What a great blog, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I think the 3D pen is so fascinating, and a great technology to incorporate into the classroom. Well done on incorporating the syllabus and linking the pens use. I also like how you included the limitations of the 3D pen. For the future, I think it would be useful if you included some pedagogical approaches and linked it to how it could work with the 3D pen. I also think a video of the pen would be beneficial to include.
Overall, I thought this was a great blog post, it was informative and creative.
Well done.
Gemma Gold (07.03.23)
46473009
March 07
I have only ever seen the 3D pen - and have never used one myself so I was very excited to read your blog post. Good use of personal photos taken with you using the 3D pen/piece of technology that you have selected. Clear evidence of referencing, I was fascinated with your incorporation of a case study. There was clear evidence of how this piece of technology could be used to foster creativity in the classroom.
Your blog site was a bit difficult to follow. For example, zig-zagging with the reading having the images on the left-hand side and then the right-hand side as you scroll down, can be difficult to follow as a reader. I would recommend…
Mar 06
Hi Imijin This fantastic blog is incredibly engaging and uses many resources that effectively justify how 3D pens can be used within the classroom and not only in creative arts but also within mathematics. That example about crafting 3D shapes would be incredibly beneficial for students to understand geometric shapes and how a physical shape can come together! I also loved how you provided evidence of how it would fit nicely within the syllabus! That is a great touch that works effectively within contextualising this blog! One thing that I would like to recommend is to include what types of pedagogies would work effectively within this emerging technology. I believe that constructivism and/or problem-based learning would work effectivel…