3D modelling curriculum and applications for 3D printers and tabs for VET schools

"3D printing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. It is also known as desktop fabrication. It is a prototyping process whereby a real object is created from a 3D design. The digital 3D-model is saved in STL format and then sent to a 3D printer. The 3D printer then prints the design layer by layer and forms a real object.Nowadays almost everything from aerospace components to toys are getting built with the help of 3D printers. 3D printing is going to impact so many industries, such as automotive, medical, business & industrial equipment, education, architecture, and consumer-product industries.3D printing technology allows users to turn any digital file into a three dimensional physical product. One of the good things about this printing technology is that it changes the dynamic of consumer culture. In other words, it turns users from being passive consumers to active creators.Schools are still in the early stage of adoption of 3D innovative technology. 3D printing provides several features that can revolutionize education. Those are: 1) It provides teachers with 3 dimensional visual aids that they can use in classroom particularly in illustrating a hard to grasp concept.2) 3D printers make it easy for teachers to seize the interest of students compared to just showing the pictorial representations of objects.3) It enhances hands-on learning and learning by doing. Using this prototyping technology, students will be able to produce realistic mini models. 4) It provides more interactive class activities. In biology, for instance, teachers can create a 3D model of the human heart, head, skeleton etc. to teach students about the human body.Given all these attributes, 3D printing seems to hold some promising and ground breaking innovation that will definitely assist in the fulfilment of a productive educational experience.Main aim of the ""3D modelling curriculum and applications for 3D printers and tabs for VET schools"" (3D for VET Schools) project was to create a comprehensive 3D modelling curriculum and training module for VET schools that includes five key design principles (alignment, strategy, learning outcomes, assessment, validation). Target group of ""3D for VET Schools"" projects are vocational teachers, lecturer who are from Biomedical, Electronics, Industrial Automation, Machine, Mechatronics and Decoration departments. Final beneficiaries were:1) Vocational education trainers (VET school teachers, vocational college lecturers, adult education center teachers, qualified instructor from industrial organisations)2) Students from VET schools and colleges (Biomedical, Electronics, Industrial Automation, Machine, Mechatronics, Decoration departments)3) Individual learners who would like learn and make practice for 3D design, modelling and printing technology.Project partners has experience and expertise in VET pedagogies and technologies. Proje partners are vocational schools, university, mechatronics research & development company, university interactive research center and VET education company. Partnership countries wereTurkey, Portugal, Serbia, Bulgaria and UK. Project intellectual outputs were:1. Technical requirement report 2. ""3D for VET Schools"" training module with ECVET learning outcomes 3. EQAVET validation control tool4. VET trainers’ manual (train the trainers) on 3D modelling course exploitation 5. Usability report."