Michael Olson and Jonathon Webster of Clarkston High School, Bill Grimm of Oak Park High School, and Tom Lurie of Oak Park Prep Academy were at Michigan Technological University recently, learning to build their own 3D printer to take home.And, since the open-source RepRap 3D printers developed for the workshop can print their own components, teachers and students can use the workshop printer to build another one, and then use the two printers to build two more, and on and on. The possibilities are virtually unlimited. The Calumet High School team was sponsored by General Motors and PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education). Through PACE, GM is launching an industry/university/high school partnership curriculum, and Calumet was the program's pilot school.
"GM is continuously looking for ways to further develop student's interest in science, technology, engineering and math.
This new pilot program with PACE provides a tremendous opportunity in which to accomplish this goal," said John Calabrese, vice president, global vehicle engineering at General Motors. "We are able to train these students on some of our more advanced technologies, such as the 3D printers, so they are prepared once they enter the workforce to jump right in to understanding these applications."Square One, a Michigan-based nonprofit educational funding organization, sponsored the other 11 teacher teams."At the Square One Education Network, we strongly believe that investing in creative and innovative teachers is a top priority for our region and country," said Karl Klimek, executive director. "Providing the gear necessary for the teachers and students to thrive is what we do best.