Rotary Newmarket’s 3D printers in schools

Newmarket Primary School students see a new dimension

An introduction to the Vice President Research & Development, MakerBot Industries in the US was the seed for the Rotary Club of Newmarket, NZ initiative to put 3D printers into schools. MakerBot have a goal of partnering with the community to put a 3D printer into every school in the US. Newmarket Rotary Past President Brian McMath suggested to MakerBot that his club would be an ideal partner for this in NZ. The result was MakerBot gave the club a 3D printer to kick start the project.

The printer was commissioned by staff at the NZ Product Accelerator; a Government funded initiative to transform companies through innovation. “The Product Accelerator has pulled together all 3D printing capability in its partner universities and increasing awareness of this technology is one of its goals,” said Professor Mark Taylor, Director of the programme, “so this partnership with Newmarket Rotary was an ideal fit”.

Newmarket Primary School in Auckland was chosen as the first school to get a 3D printer. Principal Wendy Kofoed is in no doubt that Newmarket Rotary has a new and innovative way to create a link between education and technology and she says, “Without organisations like Rotary, recognising the fact that schools often struggle to keep up with technology, we’d be left behind and so would our students’ bright, young minds.”

“We never expected the first printer to go to a primary school and we were blown away with the children’s knowledge of the technology and its capability”, said Brian. “They gave us a presentation of the practical items for the school they are going to make with the printer”, and he added, “3D technology is the future. We have got amazing press coverage of our initiative which is great as it portrays a modern futuristic image for brand Rotary.”

The initiative was launched at a Rotary District 9920 vocational visit to the Auckland University of Technology on May 27. Space was limited to 50 Rotarians and their associated school’s technology teachers. The visit was a “hot ticket” item, so a waiting list had to be instituted. Visits were made to the Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) Research Centre, the Scanning Electron Microscope and the Robotics Department.

Two technology teachers from Newmarket Primary gave a talk about their experience with the 3D printer and how it has enhanced the technology learning in the school. The presentation went viral on social media, particularly Twitter, as the teachers at the school are hotwired on social media. 

“The cost of 3D printers has decreased significantly as the technology has developed which makes them very affordable to most Rotary clubs, so our goal is to make this a NZ wide project,” says Brian. 

The next 3D printer purchased by Newmarket Rotary went to Point England School and June Gray Charitable Trust funded one for May Road Primary School (both of these schools are the lowest socio-economic decile 1 rating). Newmarket Rotary also purchased one more 3D printer for another primary school, so four 3D printers were placed by the end of July. 

Rotary in NZ has a signature project in mind once a few more schools get these printers - printing a full size Moa bird! The concept is that schools would 3D print designated sections of the extinct Moa which would then be assembled. Another idea is Victoria University School of Design are talking to the national Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington to see if they have parts of a Moa skeleton with some bits missing which the schools could then print the missing pieces. 

Still a long way to go, but the momentum is increasing … 

For further information contact Brian McMath mcmath@paradise.net.nz / +64 21 914 439.

Bridging the Digital Divide

 

Students discovering the wonder and power of technology in Taveuni Islands

Some communities are being left behind and severely disadvantaged simply because they are digitally excluded. 

 

The Rotary Club of Newmarket in Auckland, NZ has developed two projects to accelerate and widen education in disadvantaged communities, in partnership with AUT University.

The initial pilot project was at the Refugee Centre in Auckland.

Following a demonstration of tablet-based education, Geoffrey Amos who is a past president of the Rotary Club of Taveuni Island in Fiji, championed having tablet-based education on Taveuni to improve employment opportunities.

 

A tablet-based system was developed suitable for two high schools there, where internet speed and power supply is limited.

 

This was funded by a Rotary Matching Grant with contributors including the Rotary Clubs of Newmarket, Ellerslie Sunrise and Botany East Tamaki throughout Auckland, and Taveuni Island, plus Rotary Districts 9920 and 9970 District Designated Funds.

 

Project Leader Dave Birch, of the Rotary Club of Newmarket, developed a partnership with AUT University and Rotary that combined the latest digital teaching techniques (pedagogy) to be combined with Rotary’s community reach.

 

Well researched apps were selected before a Joint Rotary / AUT team travelled to Taveuni in March to set up the system, then train the teachers and students. This was ably led by Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Kelsi Cox and supported by International Youth Exchange Student Jon Glendon.

The teachers were quick learners. The students seized on this new technology and were rapidly developing cultural videos.

 

A dedicated Digital Learning Room has been set aside at both schools for the tablets and their supporting equipment. Enthusiasm is high, so additional tablets have been supplied.

Training the teachers in digitally-based education is critical for sustainability.

 

This project was presented at the Sydney Convention. Already interest has been expressed from Armenia to Tanzania, and five sites in the Pacific are being considered for Digital Learning rooms.

 

Digital Learning Rooms tailored to the conditions, provide a break-through opportunity to lift educational outcomes.

What’s next?

 

The goal is Digital Learning Rooms used in 100 schools across the Pacific. 

 

A “Digital Learning Room” with 35 tablets, related equipment, setup and training costs around US$20,000.

Rotary International Video is about doing good in Fiji. With community engagement and support from a Rotary grant, a Digital Learning Room tablet technology became a reality for one school on Taveuni Island. 

 

Go to www.digitallearningroom.org to get involved in this Digital Learning Room project that is powered by Rotary by using your skills in Technology or Teaching, supporting financially via a donation or Rotary project, or nominating a potential Digital Learning Room site.