Assistive Technology Options for Teachers: MAT621 Maker Centered Learning

MAT621 - Maker Centered Learning Final Project

An Investigation and Immersion into Rutland's Maker Space - "The MINT"

My final project is to create a couple tangible items or objects using two separate machines: laser cutter, and 3D Printer. Part of my project has been connecting and collaborating with folks from my local maker space, The Mint, in Rutland, Vermont. I've found the experience to be not only educational in terms of making and tools, but the best part has been tapping into a whole different group of community members, teachers, artisans and craftsman who have different interests, professions and skill sets. Making really is about being a part of a community of learners.

Let's Take a Look at the MINT, located at 112 Quality Lane in Rutland. Click over the link to their website.

MINT Logo

Outside access is through a key card. The facility is open 24/7.

Inside view looking at the metal shop.

Here are some videos of the three machines I'll be working with for my final project.

3D Printer Station (There are two)

Laser Cutter

CNC Router

3D File Creation at the MINT

So, in order to use the 3D Prusa Printer at the MINT you need some PD around safety and file use. The safety concerns with the 3D printer were minimal compared to the Laser Cutter, but important nonetheless. In the file use class, we spent time designing an object in Tinkercad that could be printed. Because I was working with my partner Heather at the time I created a "Heather" key chain for the 3D Printer. Here is a link to that file in Tinkercad.

The next phase is to convert the Tinkercad file to a file the Prusa can read. This would be in the form of an .STL or .OBJ file format.

Here's a picture of the Cura software that transfers the Tinkercad file to the printer.

Here's a picture of the Prusa printing my keychain project.

Digital controls show progress, temperature and location.

Finished 3D Printing Product

Laser Etching a Graphic at the MINT

I next moved on to working with the laser cutter for my final project. As I look at our class calendar and the MINT's calendar I'm sensing that this will be my final product for this project, but I do hope to take a class and then use the CNC Router eventually. My finish up work on my laser cut etching will take me into this week - our final one.

I started with a graphic I liked from my card circuit work. To me it's somewhat emblematic of the maker movement: a type of all hands on deck to solve problems and work together.

Because this was a jpeg file and not a line file from a program like Illustrator, I learned first that I could only make an etching of this file to start. So I saved this file in Inkscape as a Cairo PNG. I then brought it into Lasercut which connects with the laser cutter and etched from there. There was a question whether the file would etch as it was in color, but here is the finished etch.

This was etched by the laser cutter on 1/4" acrylic, which is pretty sturdy and rugged. For my last piece I want to go back and create a new shape in Inkscape that will "hold" my image and then cut out the line file, including my image.

Connection to the Standards or Transferable Skills

Along with utilizing a design methodology in this class, with Design Thinking, we have also looked at connecting making to a set of standards or proficiencies with which to measure progress and performance. Below, I've lined up my final project work with Vermont's Transferable Skills and will discuss how the performance indicators align with my project and thinking.

1. Clear and Effective Communication - Our final Moodle posts, Blogger posts (both class and individual), and Reflection, all connect with purposeful and organized communication. We collaborate regularly with each other's posts and do so professionally and respectfully. I've used technology a lot to communicate about my plans and goals and have often used tech specific language known by my classmates.

2. Self-Direction - I think the nature of my final project and the context of this class has created an environment of self-direction. My final project is really about building and being part of a collaborative community to learn and teach with. The products I've chosen to build fit nicely into our class curriculum and content.

My work at the MINT is new territory and I've met a number of mentors there. These are not just teachers but artisans, trades people, and entrepreneurs. My work with new tools has caused me to be informed about my goals and willing to take direction and advice. Along the way I've applied new learning to familiar understanding.

3. Creative and Practical Problem Solving - I've used an iterative process along the way with heavy doses of observation, questioning and learning. At the MINT on the laser cutter, speed is often determined by source material. There is a resource book at the machine to check prior to cutting. Of course tool behavior is often different than learning straight software, so that has been a new bit of growth for me. There is often a cross over from the design software to the machine software to the build. I've e-mailed questions to steps to processes to folks for help and have been supported.

4. Responsible and Involved Citizenship - The MINT has a community calendar that shows who has signed up for what machine daily. There is respect and ownership of a shared space there. Safety is stressed repeatedly with machines that could produce toxins or catch on fire. Work spaces are shared but personal space is respected. The MINT connects with the Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) and Castleton University so there are developing connections for enhancing community life and professional growth.

5. Informed and Integrative Thinking - Certainly have used online resources and help menus for LaserCut, Cura and Inkscape, to name a few. The great think about the future of making, in my opinion, is that everything has a context to "real life situations." Lots of observation, brainstorming, prototyping, and testing over the past two months in regard to my MINT investigation.

Cutting My Etching Part I

So, in order to cut my etching, I needed to go back into Inkscape and create a line border that the laser cutter could read to cut. I tried with the original PNG file and created a border in Inkscape that I could the Lasercutter could read.