Sallie Zetterower Elementary School won a 3D printer from Georgia Southern University’s College of Education (COE) last week. The printer, which will be used in the school’s STEM Exploratory Lab, was the prize in a contest hosted by the COE’s Innovation Studio, which seeks to teach and provide opportunities for faculty and students to use technology in innovative ways.
According to a statement released by the COE, the contest was part of the Innovation Studio’s efforts to expand their partnerships with P-12 schools. Innovation Studio founders and College of Education faculty Mete Akcaoglu, Ph.D., and Eunbae Lee, Ph.D., along with Dr. Tom Koballa, dean of the COE, delivered, set up and demonstrated the printer to Ansley Mays, Sallie Z’s STEM Exploratory Lab teacher.
Mays entered a proposal for the printer in the contest. In a release issued by the University Lee explained, “The proposal from Sallie Zetterower was a very strong proposal that was well planned.”
Mays’ plan includes ideas to combine 3D printing activities with the school’s growing outdoor classroom. Each grade will have specific performance tasks that can be related to units commonly covered in their math or science classes.
Each of Bulloch County Schools’ nine elementary schools has a STEM Exploratory Lab with a dedicated teacher. All students cycle through the labs at least once each week for supplemental, innovative learning in addition to the science, technology, engineering and math lessons they already receive in their regular classroom setting.
Akcaoglu and Lee will continue to coordinate with Mays to help demonstrate the various projects that can be achieved with the use of a 3D printer. The COE will also provide maintenance for the printer.
