We’ve published a new free lesson

Learning the basics of CAD design for 3Dprinting is what we are all about at learnbylayers. Today we are pleased to share we have updated our free lesson with a brand new modeling challenge for students. We have created a step-by-step TinkerCAD challenge where students have to design a pencil grip to help users with a disability when writing.

Download the free lesson to get this design tutorial

We first taught this tutorial last year when the pandemic initially closed schools.  We ran a 10 week series of online webinars called ‘3D printing live, learning from home’ in collaboration with FlashForge USA and showcased how to design for people with a disability. One of the designs was a pencil grip created using TinkerCAD.

Design with empathy

While this looks like a relatively simple small item and it is easy to print. The design thinking involved is a very good challenge for teenagers and a great way to introduce them to design and ’empathy’ with the user at the heart of the design. The challenge fits perfectly into the first lesson, where the benefits of 3D printing in our society are covered e.g. medical uses of 3D printing, 3D printed prosthetic arms, 3D printed houses, and how 3D printing can assist the blind.

If you are thinking about teaching 3D printing with your classes, then this is a great starting point and also gives you a flavor of what learnbylayers is all about. The design is small, easy to print, and cheap because it uses very little filament. Best of all it helps people and is a usable product. All of the CAD tutorials in the learnbylayers curriculum are useable items that serve a purpose and encourage design/problem-solving.

No planning needed – teacher written resources

Included in the free lesson is a teaching powerpoint, printable lesson task worksheet with answers, STL files to 3D print, homework tasks with answers, and a lesson plan to read through. Also, all of the content is created and tested out by current teachers who are teaching in schools right now.

Learnbylayers is taught in hundreds of schools in over 30 countries around the world and all of our resources have been aligned to national curriculum standards for the USA, UK, Australia and the Cambridge IGCSE.

The lesson packs as part of the buy the files products are also editable and purchasing schools get the powerpoint and word/powerpoint files allowing for flexibility when teaching. We also take payment via PO from schools in the UK and the USA.

If you want to learn more about how we can help you and your students with 3D printing, then download the free lesson and we will send you a series of emails with more information about the curriculum and useful resources.