In the CoLaboratory, we have a large bin marked ALLIGATOR CLIPS that was becoming a bit of an organizational nightmare with 5th graders struggling to free a wire from a tangle of metal-tipped tumbleweeds. I figured a wall-mounted solution might be helpful, and I asked my 5th graders for their opinions and suggestions.
My first physical prototype was a scrap of cardboard affixed to the side of a shelving unit with a large binder clip. Then, I mocked up a simple comb-inspired design with Tinkercad and later added perpendicular bits to the edges of the tines (like a rake) to keep the wires from slipping out. I belatedly noticed we have alligator clips of different thicknesses, so I also made another version with wider spaces between the tines.
It troubled me that students would plop the glue gun on the counter top in between squirts, leaking glue and causing a burn/fire hazard. After searching for a wall-mounted solution, I ended up making my own design in @Tinkercad and printing on one of our @Ultimaker printers.
After several incarnations (and a small pile of plastic), I settled on a relatively simple model that will hold a mini glue gun against the wall during use or while cooling. I posted my design to @Thingiverse here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5377878
I came across a tweet from John Umekubo where he shared a 3D printed design for a pocket document camera that can be used to help a teacher display or record hand motions, sketches, images, or written actions or explanations without needing a second device, an external document camera, or an elaborate setup to balance a camera above your work space! The pocket document camera acts as a sort of periscope to reflect anything being done on top of his keyboard to anyone in his Google Meet.
John’s post went a bit viral on social media, and he compiled a comprehensive blog post where he listed a bunch of ideas/prototypes created by himself and other like-minded makers. I used our 3D printers in The CoLaboratory (Room 8L in the 610 building) to make two 3D printouts of these pocket document cameras — one that fit my MacBook Air and one that fit the Class III/IV Chromebook. I reached out to our colleagues in the Lower School who are teaching remote pods and told them about this little helper and shared ideas for how it might be used. Joy Barbosa (Class III) asked for a class set, and I printed 13 of these to be sent home to her students. Luckily, materials were already being gathered to send home to the remote Class III learners, and I was able to include this tool in the boxes.
Ju Yeon Kim (Class K) also liked the idea of having her remote Kindergarten students prop their iPad vertically and project whatever they are drawing or manipulating with their hands. Since I didn’t find any existing models for an iPad, It occurred to me that it would be much more helpful to have a universal device-agnostic mirror holder. I used Tinkercad to modify John’s design and created a model which can lay flat against any laptop or tablet (Macbook, Chromebook, iPad) and requires tape, clothespins, or binder clips to affix to the device!
I ordered a bunch of 2″ square mirrors from Amazon (recommended by John in his blog post) and affixed them to the plastic holder with a hot glue gun. Now to make a few dozen more…
Also, here are some mirrors/holders you can purchase:
Construct3D is a great conference! I’ve been to all three events, and the quality of the keynotes, posters, attendees passion, interesting conversations, networking (and food) is always awesome. I always learn a ton and I leave inspired and truly energized (albeit momentarily exhausted). Per their website’s About page:
Construct3D is a vendor agnostic 3D printing, digital fabrication conference and expo focused on academic use, best practices, and professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students from informal, K12 and higher ed contexts. Construct3D is where passionate and curious educators and innovators converge to exchange ideas, build networks, learn new skills, and accelerate the adoption and exploration of 3D printing in education.
Below, I’ve gathered my tweets so that I can refer back to them without having to scroll through my Twitter timeline:
What Making Adds to kids’ learning:
– Enhanced expressiveness
– Precision and reliability
– Ability to create real things
– Making complexity accessible
Sam Dancis at @construct3dconf —> How do you go beyond inclusion? Include the experiences of women & underestimated communities, foster community, invite artists and activities. Challenge your own biases and challenge who has power and who doesn’t. #MakerEd#construct3D#edchatpic.twitter.com/q8gquY1COf
Referenced by Sam Dancis at @construct3dconf —> “Making Through the Lens of Culture and Power: Toward Transformative Visions for Educational Equity” by Shirin Vossoughi, Paula Hooper, Meg Escudé:https://t.co/VGSfZDsEbY#MakerEd#construct3D
There’s a few ideas I’m excited about right now and this is the intersection of two of them: #codeyoucantouch (in this case code you can eat!) and food experiments. I used some food-safe silicone to make a mold of a 3D printed object created in @tinkercad code blocks. #makerEdpic.twitter.com/fdwj3jbNCC
This incredible creation is a scale model of a lung-mimicking air sac. It was bioprinted complete with airways and blood vessels that never touch yet provide oxygen to red blood cells. Amazing! 🤩
📷 : Jordan Miller/Rice University pic.twitter.com/eogaUJRFrv
Here’s the chocolate mold I made with the expertise of @CeMoCreates. Her process involves coding the 3D printed design with @tinkercad Codeblocks, then using the 3D print, Legos, and food safe silicone to cast the mold. I have silicone on order already! pic.twitter.com/dmqISCc2no
Karen Blumberg 