Education & Leadership · 2022-2025
3D Printing Education & Outreach.
Founded a middle-school 3D printing club and later independently taught summer camps in CAD design and 3D printing.
Overview
My involvement in 3D printing education began in middle school, when I founded an after-school 3D printing club. Over two years, I introduced other students to CAD design and additive manufacturing, helping them develop their own projects. I later expanded into teaching week-long summer camps at my previous high school, where I independently developed and taught a curriculum for students in grades 7–10.
Middle School 3D Printing Club
I founded and led an after-school 3D printing club during 6th and 7th grade, with approximately 10 students participating. Meetings combined introductions to new design and printing concepts with time for members to work on their own CAD projects.
To expand access to the technology, we donated one 3D printer to the school, which also purchased an additional printer for student use.
One of our activities was a small boat-design competition. Students designed miniature rafts and boats, competing to create designs that could stay afloat the longest while also having an interesting appearance. The challenge encouraged experimentation with geometry, buoyancy, and creative problem-solving.
Summer 3D Printing Camps
I later served as the primary instructor for a one-week summer 3D printing camp at my previous high school. The program served approximately 10–12 students in grades 7–10.
I independently developed the curriculum and led instruction, with occasional check-ins from the camp director. Students learned 3D modeling using Tinkercad, with a brief introduction to Onshape, and gained practical experience with the 3D printing process.
As a group, students assembled a 3D printer before learning how to level the print bed, prepare models through slicing software, operate the printer, and troubleshoot printing problems. They applied these skills by designing a variety of objects, including fidgets, rockets, and vases.
What I Learned
Leading these programs taught me how to communicate technical concepts to students with different levels of experience. I learned to break complicated processes into manageable steps, encourage experimentation, and help others work through design and printing problems.
More importantly, these experiences showed me how engineering can become more accessible when people have the tools and guidance to turn their ideas into physical objects.