Revolutionizing Education with 3D Printing: Insights from Thoreau Beach High School

 
Imagine a high school curriculum where instead of passive memorization and tedious essays, students engage with immersive technology to dive deep into literature. They use cutting-edge tools, collaborate with peers, and literally mold their understandings into tangible form. Welcome to Thoreau Beach High School, where students are doing just that, thanks to their innovative use of 3D printing technology.

Dissecting Literature with 3D Models

A group of seniors is currently reading “InstaWild,” a book that explores themes of adventure, survival, and human-animal relationships. Deepening their understanding of these themes, they used a 3D printer to construct a model of a dog, which symbolizes caution and companionship in the book. In their interpretation, the protagonist’s survival could have depended on the presence of the dog, suggesting a deeper reliance on companionship and careful planning.

Sparking Collaborative Learning and Engagement

Marissa, a senior at Thoreau Beach High School, shared her insights, explaining that 3D printing technology has transcended the traditional essay or PowerPoint presentation. This hands-on approach facilitates a more interactive and collaborative learning process, enabling students to work together to build something meaningful and visualize their interpretation of the texts.

Transforming the Classroom with Boxlight

Behind this innovative approach to learning is Boxlight, an educational technology company committed to transforming the learning environment. With its range of top-tier products, including 3D printers for the classroom, Boxlight is equipping students with essential 21st-century tools and skills. It’s not just about creating a 3D model; it’s about nurturing creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities among young learners.

Moving Forward: The Potential of 3D Printing in Education

The successful implementation of 3D printing technology at Thoreau Beach High School opens up endless possibilities for its incorporation across diverse educational curricula. From literature to STEM subjects, 3D printed models can offer a more interactive, engaging, and profound learning experience.

This inspiring example serves as a call-to-action for educators and educational institutions to consider adopting such innovative, future-ready solutions. It’s time to make learning more interactive, engaging, and relevant to the ever-evolving technological landscape.

Recent Episodes

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with TJ Markland, General Manager of Payments at Raptor Technologies, to discuss the often-overlooked safety challenges of school events—from daytime assemblies to Friday night football. As schools work to balance hospitality…

The labor market is evolving quickly and traditional higher education faces increasing pressure to demonstrate real-world value. According to Strada Education Network, just 63 percent of college graduates feel their education was worth the cost. With shifting learner expectations and growing employer demand for work-ready skills, universities and employers are confronting a critical question:…

The convergence of human-centered design and education innovation is reshaping how edtech ventures emerge and scale. As AI enables hyper-efficiency and bootstrapped entrepreneurship becomes more viable, the real differentiator is empathy—founders who listen deeply to users before building solutions. A McKinsey study of 300 public companies found that design-led organizations significantly outperformed their peers, with…