Digital Week 6

3D Modelling

In small groups, choose and watch together at least one video from this week’s media, relating to 3D design or 3D printing (i.e. '3D printing a lunar base', '4D printing', 'What If 3D Printing Was 100x Faster?', '3D printing UAVs' or 'Kidesign - 3D Design and 3D Printing for Education').

In your groups, suggest ways in which the widespread use of these technologies in industry might require changes to current educational practice in your own context. Publish your group thoughts to the G+ Community, In Class Tasks, using #3DEducation and your location as hashtags.

3D Thinking and Spatial Intelligence

This type of 3D modelling is not only useful for learning to design 3D objects. Many researchers believe that it links to wider skills that can be developed and applied elsewhere. For example Dünser, Steinbügl, Kaufmann and Glück (2006), part of a team that have published widely on the value of students creating and using 3D models, state that “Spatial ability is one of the main components of human intelligence [and is especially important for several occupations or educational programs and training… spatial ability is pervasive, which means that we need it for almost each activity in everyday life" 

Similarly Karon (2015), in the context of teaching 3D technology to children, notes that “Research indicates that strong spatial thinking, a skill necessary for creating three dimensional objects, is directly linked to success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics...spatial thinking can be taught and improved through practice.” 

Topology Sculpting

A type of 3D modelling that is like sculpting clay. SculptGL lets you do this in the browser

http://stephaneginier.com/sculptgl/

Free 3D Modelling Software

There are quite a few options when it comes to free 3D modelling software that is available online. Here is a list of a few we recommend:

• SketchUp www.sketchup.com
• Blender www.blender.org
• Daz Studio www.daz3d.com
• FreeCAD www.freecadweb.org

Tinkercad

Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-learn online app anyone can use to create and print 3D models. You need to Sign Up / Sign In. For this we recommend you use a laptop with a mouse.

If you haven't used Tinkercad before, you should find  these videos useful for reference:

• Introduction - TinkerCad
• Basic Features - TinkerCad
• Tools and Shortcuts - Tinkercad
• Creating holes - Tinkercad

Alternatively, if you prefer to read rather than watch, you can use these step by step text-based guides made by Coco at The Mind Lab

• Starting Tinkercad
• Tips & Tricks using Tinkercad 1
• Tips & Tricks using Tinkercad 2
• Tinkercad - Using the Hole Tool

Remember to save your 3D model frequently