The 3D on the Move project has been around for six years. The basis – a collaboration between the Brede School Klazienaveen and the local Esdal College – has clearly been laid, but now it is important to stay on the radar.
A mission. It’s on the project’s website. And that’s not a bad idea, because with 3D on the Move the project group wants to ‘do justice to 21st century skills’. Those skills include critical, creative and arithmetic thinking, problem solving, basic ICT skills, information literacy and media literacy.
“The 3D printer is the means to master and develop those skills,” says Bert Jan Volders on behalf of the project group. Three-dimensional (spatial) objects can be made with a 3D printer, such as cups for a futsal tournament, medals for the kids run of the Drents Loopfestijn in Klazienaveen, plus business card holders with logos and key chains with logos for companies in the region.
Volders pulls the cart together with Peter Rolink and Arnoud Langen. The trio work in education. Volders is active in primary education, while Rolink (he is about to retire early) and Langen are committed to Esdal College in Klazienaveen. For six years, 3D on the Move could count on a provincial subsidy, but now it is time to stand on its own two feet.
“That is why we came up with a plan for the future together,” says Volders. Primary schools in the municipality of Emmen that join the project will be helped on their way with the 3D printer. Teachers are supported (online) and the project group takes care of repairing printers. The teaching material for children in the middle and upper classes is up to date and primary schools can participate in competitions with the 3D printer. The organization also provides a newsletter and promotion of the schools via social media, among other things.
Inform and inspire
Participation costs 500 euros per school year. Earlier this month, the project group held a meeting at Esdal College in Klazienaveen to inform primary schools and to make them enthusiastic about the plan, which will start at the start of the new school year. “Because the last thing we want is for 3D printers to be gathering dust at school,” says the technically well-versed Langen. “We have already achieved that more than twenty schools are familiar with the project. Also outside Klazienaveen, incidentally, and that is what we would like.”
It is hoped that an oil slick will spread (quickly). “In the last six years, so much knowledge and expertise has been collected in teaching cards, videos, projects and products. We must keep all this permanently for the future. Schools can benefit from it,” says the experienced Rolink. “And we all know that there is a dire shortage of technical personnel.”
The three drivers emphasize that ‘there is no need to be afraid of such a thing’. “We take away that fear through the short lines that are there. In this respect, unknown does not necessarily mean unloved. We expect to be able to serve at least 25 schools. The kick-off meeting? It’s in September.”
More (general) information can be found here www.3donthemove.nu