You may not think of Hungary as the center of 3D Printing education, but all that is about change. A forward-thinking endeavor has cropped up. It’s goal to supply each and every school in Hungary with 3D Printers within 3 years.
2016.06.01., Budapest – The Hungarian ‘3DTECH in Schools’ program takes a huge leap forward by welcoming CrafUnique, Hungarian 3D printer manufacturer and Leopoly, online 3D modeling software developer on board. With this turn the program awards another 10 Hungarian schools with a 3D printer which adds up to 21 institutions equipped with innovative technology due to the initiative.
The goal of the project is to install 3D printers in every Hungarian educational institution within 3 years. They’d also like to ensure that the technology is adopted so that it is helping the development of the students and the work of the teachers efficiently. Hungarian 3D printing specialist, FreeDee Printing Solutions’ first step was a ‘MakerBot in the Classroom’ competition awarding 11 schools with professional MakerBot 3D printers. A similar competition has been held half a year earlier in Estonia. FreeDee’s aim was to measure the readiness of local schools to use 3D technologies. With 413 entries the results surpassed all expectations. Encouraged by the success of the campaign the team decided that they have to keep up the good work.
As CraftUnique and Leopoly joins the program, another 10 schools receive a 3D printer providing further examples of the opportunities that come with educational 3D printing.
Before the handover, FreeDee Printing Solutions showcased what has been happening in the schools who had received their printers 2 months ago. Naturally hundreds of visual aids have been printed, including motivational assets such as prizes and school emblems. Many schools started their own public awareness campaigns by visiting other schools and showcasing the technology during open days. In vocational schools jigs and parts modeled by students went into production. Surprisingly even in primary schools where no prior 3D modeling experience existed teachers and students started to use TinkerCAD, Blender and Thingiverse customizing tools to produce their designs.
The 3DTECH in Schools program unites 3 of the most important companies in the Hungarian 3D printing scene:
- FreeDee Printing Solutions: distributor and service provider, founder of the 3D Academy providing a unique educational program in the field
- Leopoly: developer of the world famous online 3D modeling software
- CraftUnique: developer and manufacturer of CraftBot 3D printers and CraftWare slicer
By putting together these 3 companies covering different aspects, the program includes everything from the teachers’ training and a professional support system to the installation of infrastructure. As for the machinery they propose to have printers in every school with appointed knowledge centers (preferably in vocational schools) where multi-printer laboratories are set up including 3D scanners and other assets.
“The 3DTECH in Schools program puts no extra burden on the educators or the educational system. Our goal is to make Hungary realize an incomparable and fully comprehensive educational program in 3D technologies” – said György Simó, CEO, FreeDee Printing Solutions.
“There’s an indisputable need for raising technological awareness during the education of the next generations” – Csaba Fazekas, CEO, CraftUnique.
“The program provides a unique opportunity to integrate 3D printing in the curriculum so that it efficiently supports educational goals and the development of students.” Zoltán Kárpáti, CEO, Leopoly.
As has been said during the ceremony and underpinned by examples, the biggest advantage of educational 3D printing lies in the achievable interdiscplinarity. Working on complex projects from defining a problem, coming up with solutions, iterating during the design process to actually producing an object, many different competencies evolve. The cherry on the top of it is that all children are truly thrilled by creative activities that actually provide a tangible outcome.
According to the companies behind the initiative, the 3DTECH in Schools is an easy-to-launch program whether centrally or by the involvement of further private sponsors.