3D Printing “Passion Projects”

Play video: CoffeED: Evelyn McCulloch (11 minutes 27 seconds)11:27

Tackling real-world problems with edtech innovation in the classroom
Evelyn McCulloch didn’t think much about technology in the classroom until she taught third grade in Beijing, China in 2011. She was inspired by her students to reach out to the international education community, and the dialogue and collaboration she found encouraged her to delve deeper into the edtech world that was emerging at the time. When she returned to teach in the United States, she brought her knowledge for edtech back with her and discovered 3D printing as an excellent tool to teach her students about utilizing innovation and technology. As a result, her students have been working with three local Orlando hospitals for the past five years to tackle authentic problems, using their 3D printing skills to create 3D-printed inner ear bones, surgical tools, practice devices, and models to prototype ideas for doctors and patients.

Evelyn is passionate about spreading her ideas and techniques to help empower teachers to take bold risks for authentic student learning experiences. She feels a sense of responsibility to contribute to the community, at both the hospitals in the Orlando area where she is based and the larger global education community trying to incorporate edtech, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) into classrooms around the world. She will be presenting two sessions about using edtech tools and skills during the 2019 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from January 27th through the 30th.

With over 16,000 edtech startups around the world, Evelyn says it is critical for educators to be discerning in what tools they choose. “Choose the tool to fit the task and support learning,” she advises. “Use a variety if you wish, focusing on tools that increase efficiency and collaboration between students and other classrooms.” She seeks out and values the relationships with vendors that have a strong foundation in pedagogy and innovation. She says it’s important to use larger vendors like Google’s G Suite and Apple to employ common platforms that easily collaborate, communicate and share with other classrooms around the country and world. It gives students a real sense of belonging by participating in problem-solving communities while learning and using tools and strategies they will utilize far into the future.

As Evelyn says, when vendors and educators are all on the same page working toward the future, kids win.

Evelyn McCulloch will be presenting two sessions at the 2019 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) from January 27th-30th in Orlando, Florida. The conference will bring together thousands of educators and technology leaders for an intensive, highly collaborative exploration of new technologies, best practices, and pressing issues. Registration is now open.

Evelyn will be presenting at the following sessions:

• C320 | Building Empathy: Hospital Partnerships Using 3D Printing
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• C072 | Global Google Tools to Connect Schools

Further Reading

1. 3Ders.org – Study shows 3D printing could enhance design thinking and creativity in primary schools
2. Education Dive – 3 ways technology and innovation can drastically transform learning
3. EdTech Magazine – Top K–12 Tech Tools for Teaching STEM

Related reading

• From Large District Leadership to International Influence
• Rapidly Changing the Education Mindset

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