3-D Printing: On the Verge of Something Really Big

I am fascinated with 3-D printing.

In 2004, The NMC: The New Media Consortium created its first edition of its signature publication, The Horizon Report.  I was fortunate enough to have been a member of that publication’s editorial panel and can clearly recall the discussion we had around RAPID PROTOTYPING – a technology we now think of as 3-D printing.  The panel recognized that a growing number of colleges and

universities were experimenting with rapid prototyping for fast and cost-efficient creation of models and parts.  The 2004 Horizon Report projected that the availability of 3-D printers would spread once the price of the units came done.

The recently published 2014 Horizon Report identifies 3D printing as a “Technology to Watch” with a time-to-adoption projection of two to three years.  It describes the technology this way:

Known in industrial circles as rapid prototyping, 3D printing refers to technologies that construct physical objects from three-dimensional (3D) digital content such as 3D modeling software, computer-aided design (CAD) tools, computer-aided tomography (CAT), and X-ray crystallography. A 3D printer builds a tangible model or prototype from the electronic file, one layer at a time, through an extrusion-like process using plastics and other flexible materials, or an inkjet-like process to spray a bonding agent onto a very thin layer of fixable powder. The deposits created by the machine can be applied very accurately to build an object from the bottom up, layer by layer, with resolutions that, even in the least expensive machines, are more than sufficient to express a large amount of detail. The process even accommodates moving parts within the object. Using different materials and bonding agents, color can be applied, and parts can be rendered in plastic, resin, or metal. This technology is commonly used in manufacturing to build prototypes of almost any object (scaled to fit the printer, of course) that can be conveyed in three dimensions.

Ten years later, the current NMC panel is even more enthusiastic about the technology.  And, there are scads

of examples of how it is being used regularly in educational settings – both formal and informal.

I can affirm that this technology is here now – at least in Chattanooga.  The Chattanooga Public Library 4th floor has a 3-D printer that is available for use to members of the public.  I used this device to make my first 3-D object – a very small figure of Totoro, the iconic

anime character.  They have since added a second printer with the capacity to produce larger objects.  You can read a story - The Boundless Possibilities of 3-D Printing  - on how Chattanooga has embraced 3-D printing in Nooga.com, a local news website focusing on business, government and lifestyle in the Chattanooga area.

You should also read a recent article in Campus Technology, one of my favorite publications - Print Your Own 3D Learning Objects.  The article describes how faculty and students at the University of North Georgia are using 3D printing to create low-cost orthotics and assistive devices for disabled children and other applications of this “disruptive technology.” This article also provides some resources for those interested in learning more about 3-D printing in education.

Autodesk AutoCAD: commercial 3D modeling software
Autodesk Maya: commercial 3D animation software
Blender: free, open source 3D creation software
Dassault Systems SolidWorks: commercial software for engineering design
Trimble SketchUp: a commercial design program that includes 3D modeling
Trimble SketchUp Make: a free 3D drawing tool

Printer Options - Hobbyist 3D Printers (sub-$3,000)
Afinia H-Series

Deezmaker Bukobot 8

MakerBot Replicator 2

Personal Portable 3D Printer (PP3DP) UP! mini

SeeMeCNC Orion

Solidoodle Cube 3D Printers

Ultimaker

 

10 Things that Will Make You a Better Photographer – Guaranteed

1.  Rotate your camera.  If you subject is mostly vertical, turn your camera 90 degrees.  This will create a vertical

Rotate the camera to make a vertical composition

photograph that makes you subject more prominent.

2.  Move in closer.  Standing too far away from your subject diminishes the impact of your photograph.

3.  Use the “Rule of Thirds.”  Avoid putting your subject in the dead center of your image.

 If you divide the image re into

Avoid "centering," create interest

thirds horizontally and vertically, placing your subject close to the intersection of the lines creates a far more interesting photography.

4.  Take lots of photos.  With digital photography, there is no reason to take only one of two shots.  Especially when you have people in the photo, take several of the same pose.  You will be surprised to see that there are small differences

Taking several shots can "capture the moment"

that will make one of these the “keeper.”  Delete the rest.  Also, often great photographs "capture the moment" and taking multiple shots will let you select that moment.

5.  Move.  Do not stay in the same place and fire off a bunch of shots.  Move closer and move from side to side.  If you have a series of photographs and they are all from the same spot, with the same background, they will be boring.

6.  Watch the background.  Even a well-composed photograph can be made worthless if there are poles or

Contrasting, soft background enhances subject

trees coming out of the subject’s head.  Try to find a neutral, uncluttered background where the contrast of that background and the subject will make the subject “pop.”  Also, avoid having the sun or extreme brightness behind your subject.

7.  Hold steady.  A blurry photograph is usually not what you want.  Hold your camera steady.  Practice pushing your camera’s shutter button with a smooth, steady pressure.  Sometimes you will need to consider a camera support such as a tripod or monopod.

8.  Shoot at the proper level & angle.  Bend down if your subject is lower, such as a child or a pet.  Shooting at an extreme angle of up or down can be an effect you want, but

Bend down

in most cases, get to the eye level of a subject.

9.  Use lines, angles, and framing.  Lines and angles are powerful visual elements; they can direct the viewer’s eye to

Opening in wall as a frame

your subject.  Also, consider suing some element of the environment to frame a photo.  For example, a bit of a tree branch can make the subject stand out and have perspective.

10.  Learn as much as you can about your camera.  Even the simple “point and shoot” models have controls that will make you a better photographer if you know how to use them.  One example is ISO setting.  This lets you adjust the sensitivity of your camera to light.

Try these ides and see what people say about your talents as a photographer!

One Laptop Per Child – Where Can this Take Us?

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has a mission – to empower the world's poorest children through education.  The primary methodology is to provide every child with a laptop computer to help them learn.  Yes, every child – in the world!  The

good news is that this is happening right now.  According to the project website, worldwide over 2.4 million children and teachers have XO laptops.

OLPC is a project managed by the One Laptop per Child Association (OLPCA) with support from its partner the OLPC Foundation (OLPCF).  Both are U.S. non-profit organizations set up to oversee the creation of affordable educational devices for use primarily in the developing world.

The XO-1 laptop itself, perhaps more aptly called a “subnotebook,” is manufactured for OLPC by Quanta Computer, a Taiwanese company that is the largest manufacturer of notebook computers in the world with Apple, HP, and Dell among its customers.  The XO-1 is designed as a rugged, low-power device using flash memory with a variant of Red Hat Fedora Linux as their operating system.  The devices use WiFi “mesh networking” and operate with multiple machines wirelessly connected to a router or other access point.  There is a more

current XO-4 version that is in use and a tablet version using Android OS ready for sale at some WalMart stores for $150.  It is likely that the project will shift its focus toward more tablet distribution.

Dive into some of the press covering the OLPC effort and you will find some truly amazing stories.  From Armenia to Nicaragua to Uruguay, the impact of these devices is already profound for those communities where they are deployed.  The effort in Uruguay is actually the first instance where a national government has committed to universal distribution in its nation.

It makes you wonder what we could do in the United States with a commitment to provide One Laptop Per Child here at home.

Distribution of OLPC devices

My New Educational Hero - Finland

Congratulations Finland - you are leading the world in educational attainment and efficiency. 

Finland, with a population of 5.4 million (a million less that the state of Tennessee), spends about $10 billion annually on education.  That puts them among a group of 12 countries compared in an Infographic created by the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.   The United States lays out $809.6 billion per year.  On a per student basis, The US spending tops the dozen countries with $7,743 compared to Finland’s fifth place $5,653 per student.  Yet, Finland has a 100% literacy rate and the highest rank for both math and science scores. The US is 10^th ranked in Math scores and 8^th in Science.

Take a look at the Infographic HERE.  The first thing that jumps out is the huge difference there is in spending by the United States compared to the other 11.  On a total spending basis, our annual output of $809.6 billion dwarfs the next country – Japan with $160.5 billion.  This reminds me so much of healthcare where the US spends much more than anyone else, yet our health outcomes, like those of education, are not so hot.

It is a complex issue to unravel the multiple failings of the United States in education.  One thing I do know, however -  I want to learn more about Finland’s education system.  They must be doing some things very well.

Thanks to Edudemic for leading me to the Rossier Infographic - How 12 Countries Spend Education Money (And If It Makes A Difference)

Rob Jenkins Weighs in On MOOCs - And He is Right

One of the best writers for the Chronicle of Higher Education is Rob Jenkins.  He really makes sense most all of the time.  Perhaps this is due in part to the fact that he is a an actual faculty member at a community college (Georgia Perimeter College).

In a recent article in the Chronicle titled Who Is Driving the Online Locomotive? Rob voices a healthy skepticism about the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) phenomena.  I encourage you to read his entire column, but his summation is telling.  He warns that "the only way to slow it down is for enough of us to refuse to get on board and instead line the tracks, signaling 'proceed with caution' with all our might."

I know there are some good things that will develop from MOOCs, not the least of which is that it has spawned discussion about broader issues with learning and learning online.  However, I am personally concerned about

Used under Flickr Creative Commons

fundamental issues concerning educational quality, expectations, and outcome.  In addition, there is an element of control by mega-universities (or their consortia) and by corporate entities that rubs me the wrong way.  Finally, for the students at community, technical and junior colleges, we know that they typically do better with traditional classroom courses than online.  So why would we want to put them in a MOOC with 70,000 other students?

I am trying to keep an open mind on MOOCs.  In fact, I will be enrolling in a MOOC offered by Harvard next month.  I want to have that student perspective.

I am with Rob Jenkins - we need to proceed with caution.  Time will tell who is driving this train.

Associate Degree Program Requirements Typically Top 60 Credits

The reasons for the low graduation rate for most community college students are multiple, but a recent study, conducted last year for Complete College America and reported in Issues in Higher Education, blames credit hour expansion as a primary cause.

The study found that "half of the community colleges surveyed did not have a single program limited to 60 credits, including general education degrees and those aimed at students who transfer to four-year institutions."  The assumption is that the added credit hour requirements that most two-year degree programs have is a deterrent to graduation.

I am not sure that I buy this argument.  

One only has to look at healthcare programs, especially nursing, to see that there is something else beyond simply numbers of credits at play.  Associate degree nursing programs typically require 70 or more credits hours for graduation.  Yet, these programs almost always have a very high completion rate - often in excess of 90% graduate in nursing.

Granted, it is not unusual for students at two-year colleges to take way more than two years to complete a degree.  Some of the most recognized obstacles include:

• Most community college students must take remedial or development courses, especially in math.  
• Students in these colleges often do not seek advising, or perhaps they get bad advice
• It is common for students to change majors
• Most students at two-year schools work, often full-time
• The part-time student attitude is also influenced by family obligations
• Many of these students fail to recognize that completing their Associate degree is in their best interest - they transfer out without completion

I agree that community, technical and junior colleges should not add credit hour requirements that extend the time to graduation - for the most part.  I am also a huge fan of certificate programs that are "nested" within an Associate degree.  This is a great way to "ladder" the progress of students, especially in career and technical programs.  15 - 20 credit hours can add up to a certificate, which means a form of completion that is often under-appreciated.

Associate degree program requirements typically top 60 credits | Inside Higher Ed

Framework for 21st Century Learning from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills

I think this is an important step in grappling with what students need to learn in this century. Too much of our educational systems is still focused upon old skill sets that will not have relevance in the future.

The basic framework includes:

1. Core Subjects (the 3 Rs) and 21st Century Themes

2. Learning and Innovation Skills 

• Creativity and Innovation
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Communication and Collaboration

3. Information, Media and Technology Skills

• Information Literacy
• Media Literacy
• ICT Literacy

4. Life and Career Skills 

Source:  

Framework for 21st Century Learning - The Partnership for 21st Century Skills | Diigo

In the Digital Age, What Becomes of the Library?

This is a thoughtful article that addresses a vexing question - what is the library to be in the digital age?  Clearly, the era of the library as a repository of physical books has some value, but with information accessible through digital formats, the role for the library must change.

Clark Library, Lockhart TX

A couple of years ago, I was the Chief Academic Officer at a community college that had a large collection of bound volumes.  The problem was, nobody used them.  I could randomly select book after book and see that actual circulation (check out) of the books almost never happened.  The college had a situation the required us to occupy the library building for other purposes.  We developed a process for the faculty to select the books that they wanted to retain.  We held the other volumes in storage for over a year, then we recycled the culled books and bound periodicals.  The collection was reduced by over 25,000 volumes.  There were no complaints.  Today, this college has recreated the library as a gathering place and a source of assistance in obtaining information - mostly online.

For public libraries, the situation is a bit different.  One of the most important assets of a public library is the provision of freely distributed books for children.  The access to reading material provided, especially for low-income families, is very important.  Yes, the public libraries also face the digital dilemma - how to remain relevant in the information age.  The article below covers many of the important issues.  I especially like the comment of Youth Services Librarian and blogger Louise Capizzo who states, "Ask yourself what you want to see in your library. Talk to your librarian. Then, advocate for those changes. You are to blame if your library doesn’t have what you want.”

Good advice. From Mind/Shift, a collaboration between
NPR and San Francisco public media station KQED

In the Digital Age, What Becomes of the Library? | MindShift

10 Education Startups To Keep Your Eye On from Edudemic

Edudemic is o wonderful source for great content related to Educational Technology.  In just a couple of years, Edudemic has become one of the most visited Websites around for "tools, tips, resources, visuals, and guest posts from dozens of authors around the world."  Teachers at all levels will benefit from their material.

10 Education Startups To Keep Your Eye On | Edudemic

My New Status

As of May 31, I am officially retired from my position as the Director at the National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development at the University of Texas in Austin. I really appreciate the opportunity to work with the great NISOD Team. Thanks also to Dr. Juan Gonzalez, Professor Norma Cantu and Dean Manuel Justiz, as well as the faculty at the College of Education..

The next chapter of my life will be less complex, but I still will be active with teaching, consulting, writing and more.

I am very happy to be back with the family in Chattanooga. 

Completion begins and ends in the classroom by Terry O’Banion

A great column - Excerpts from Academic Advising: The Key to Student Success, edited by Terry O’Banion.  Supporting data from the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) shows that the keys to successful completion use these principles of good practice:

1. Encourage student-faculty contact.
2. Encourage cooperation among students.
3. Encourage active learning.
4. Give prompt feedback.
5. Emphasize time on task.
6. Communicate high expectations.
7. Respect diverse talents and ways of learning.

Completion begins and ends in the classroom

NISOD Conference Honors Bumphus, Looks at Issues at Community Colleges - Higher Education

This story is from Diverse Issues in Higher Education and describes some of the NISOD International Conference on Teaching & Leadership Excellence (held May 26-29 in Austin TX).  Walter Bumphus, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, was honored with the Diverse Champions Award.

NISOD Conference Honors Bumphus; Looks at Issues at Community Colleges - Higher Education

Mapping with Google = A Free Online Course

I just signed up for a free online course from Google on both Google Maps and Google Earth.

The course will be available June 10.  The self-paced course features video and text tutorials and the curriculum includes: 

• Unit 1 - Course Overview 
• Unit 2 - Google Maps 
• Unit 3 - Google Maps Engine Lite 
• Project Google Maps
• Unit 4 - Google Earth Basics 
• Project Google Earth
• Unit 5 - Google Earth Extras 
  
  
  
   

Mapping with Google - Course

ASCD Express 8.17 - Games: A Model of Effective Assessment

Gamificatuion - it is time to take games seriously.  Here is a brief reflection upon the value of learning from games.  They conclude that "we can borrow from game design to improve classroom assessment practices."  That and much more.

From the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, or ASCD 

 


ASCD Express 8.17 - Games: A Model of Effective Assessment

Chattanooga, Tennessee - Best Place to Live in America?

I am proud to make Chattanooga my home.  What a dramatic shift over the past twenty years.  When I first visited Chattanooga in early 1991 on a scouting trip, my first though was, "what will I tell my family?"  Downtown was bleak, even a little scary.  Restaurants were few and of little variety. And, the scenic beauty was marred by inattention to access and relic foundries and scrapyards.

So what happened?  I have to give a lot of credit to local leadership - including some old money families who were willing to invest in their city's future. 

Chattanooga is not perfect - we need to do a great deal with public schools, jobs, and public transportation.  But, to even be considered as a great city is indicative of progress in the right direction.

Chattanooga, Tennessee - Best Place to Live in America

Chart Gizmo – Online Chart Builder | Teach Amazing!

This came from Mark Brumley's Teach Amazing! Website - a wonderful source for good ideas about many things related to educational technology and learning.  

Chart Gizmo – Online Chart Builder | Teach Amazing!

5 Great Mapping Tools to Use in the Classroom

As one who teaches Geography, I found this to be useful.  Of course we have Google Earth, but here are some other great interactive tools for students to get involved in learning through maps.  

From 

5 Great Mapping Tools to Use in the Classroom

A Nice Story Featuring John Wood Community College

Read full story here

More students finding higher education career can start at commu - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports