Makers Empire’s US partner, Polar3D, is pleased to announce that GE Additive is now accepting applications from schools and colleges for the 2018 cycle of its Additive Education Program (AEP).
The deadline is February 28, 2018.
GE is investing $10 million over five years in educational programs to deliver Polar Cloud-enabled polymer 3D printers to primary and secondary schools and metal 3D printers to colleges and universities around the world. This support will be spread across the three categories:
1. Primary and secondary schools (ages 8-18)
GE is awarding schools and colleges Polar Cloud enabled 3D printers from Dremel, Flashforge and Ultimaker plus Polar Cloud curriculum from Makers Empire, BlocksCAD and STEAMtrax as well as materials, training and professional development.
2. University and College Program (ages 18+)
GE is awarding metal additive machines to selected colleges and universities around the world.
3. Discount Program
GE is awarding bulk discounts on Polar Cloud enabled 3D printers from Dremel, Flashforge and Ultimaker plus Polar Cloud curriculum from Makers Empire, BlocksCAD and STEAMtrax as well as materials, training and professional development.
This year’s program follows last year’s successful inaugural cycle. In 2017, more than 400 K-12 schools each received two Polar Cloud-enabled 3D printers and STEM curriculum incorporating design with additive manufacturing and professional development. Eight colleges and universities also received direct metal laser melting (DMLM) machines.
Read feedback from participating teachers below:
From the beginning, the students had no trouble. They absolutely loved it… The students’ favorite part was going from the computer screen to something they can hold in their hand…It’s always better if you can give students an authentic reason to communicate.”
Sandra Wiseman, Library Media & Technology Integration Specialist
Woodsdale Elementary School, West Virginia, USA
“This has been a wonderful new way to teach and motivate my students. They are so eager and excited to learn in this new way!… They are beginning to see real-life implications to what they learning to do in class and how they could develop prototypes of objects that they could develop and then produce to sell… At first, I preferred Tinkercad because I knew this software better. However, now that I have had some time to work with Makers Empire it is so much better. It does a much better job of showing you how to build and create. The challenges help tremendously!…The overall enthusiasm towards school and learning has increased tremendously. Students who are typically reluctant learners have come to life. One student was chronically absent and has now improved his attendance. He asks me each morning if he can get on the computer!”
Robin McGinnis, District Gifted Education Presenter
Mt. Healthy City School System, Ohio, USA
“I was trying to start 3D printing in our school for a while, but I found it very difficult to start from nothing. I needed a lot of resources and easy access to resources. This program has provided everything that I needed. It was wonderful!… All of my students learned how to use Makers Empire design software during my STEM classes. I used Makers Empire lessons: “Let’s Get Decorated” with 5th-8th grade students and “Mazes” with 8th grade students. They all loved learning about 3D printing… I enjoyed teaching this, observing their enjoyment, learning and looking at their awesome designs,”
Meltem Albayrak DiLeo, Teacher
Holy Trinity Catholic School, Pennsylvania, USA
“…when I started using Makers Empire with the kids they really took to it. I think that we had 5,000 designs within a month’s time! I had seven classrooms at the school using it. And I had other teachers saying, ‘I really want to get in on this. I want to try this with our kids,’… Clearly, Makers Empire was a hit!… What is really nice about Makers Empire is it’s the first time that the students are actually creating something (original). We’ve had a 3D printer and stuff going on four or five years now. Previously, the students didn’t really create (anything) original… But with Makers Empire, when they were all finished, each student had all of these different unique creations… I feel like Makers Empire is a game changer for 3D design for our kids. There’s a lot of software out there but Makers Empire has incorporated so many different features. With the challenges and then the tutorials built in, no one else has that.”
Karie Huttner, K-5 Educational Technology Coach
Verona Area School District, Verona, USA
“I love Makers Empire software. It is great to use with elementary age students… I love teaching students how to design for 3D printing. It’s so fun watching them problem solve to create a certain shape by adding or taking away.”
Karen Owen, Technology Teacher
Grace Christian Academy, Tennessee, USA
“Makers Empire has been a great tool for many of my students that find other CAD software difficult. Some students have difficulty visualizing in a 3D workspace; 3D modelling is great practice to build spatial sense… This is linked to a skill in our math curriculum, so it’s great to give a real world application for students to practice… Originally I started with my whole class using TinkerCAD. However, when given the choice many of my students gravitated to Makers Empire. I’m not sure if they prefer using the touch screen on the tablets to manipulate their designs, the gamification, or something else, but many have been successful with it and have made some great designs! 3D printing tech lets my students see themselves as creators and how it can help others. They feel empowered by the possibilities of the technology and the leadership they are able to take in their school.”
Jeff Hennigar, Grade 4/5 Teacher
BLT Senior Elementary School, Nova Scotia, Canada
“The software is easy to use and kid friendly… The curriculum has been great and it even fits into the objectives that I am currently teaching… When we first started using the curriculum I thought it was going to be a huge task getting my students to learn this. But instead of teaching, I have become a facilitator. They have really taken off and are helping each other solve problems. When we end our day I may about 20 designs that were created, but when we start the next day I see that number increase to about 50. They are even designing at home.”
Irene Barry-Philord, Teacher
Eneida M. Hartner Elementary, Florida, USA
“After having tried several softwares I can say hands down that Makers Empire has been the easiest for my students in grades 3-5 to access and manipulate.”
Christopher Burdman, STEM Teacher
Joseph P Tynan Elementary School, Boston, USA
“I have worked with several design software but Makers Empire is the easiest to use… One of the best things students learned is that it is okay to not get the “right” answer the first time, or second time. Students know that “failing” is part of the design process and problem solving. Students have expanded their problem solving skills to think more outside of the box… Before, my students were limited in their STEM applications and designs due to financial issues and materials available. Now each student is able to have an account for their designs and can work at their pace which is meeting them on their individual need. Through this, my after school STEM club has gained interested to where students had to be put on a waiting list. Students have discussed participating in STEM clubs in middle school and high school as well as more interest in engineering type careers.”
Casey Corn, STEM Teacher
Chesnee Elementary School, South Carolina, USA
“Software is great, very user friendly… Kids loved it.”
Bryan Couts, Technology Teacher
Titusville Middle School, Pennsylvania, USA
“It is estimated that 180,000 students worldwide now have access to 3D printers as a result of the Education Program,” says Jason Oliver, VP & CEO of GE Additive.
“We are excited to continue the program in 2018 and give students across all grades exposure to additive manufacturing. This will help promote interest in STEM and create a pipeline of qualified engineers and technicians to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing.”
“GE’s AEP is already having a huge impact on student outcomes,” adds Greg LaLonde, CEO of Polar3D, which partners with GE Additive on the Program.
“Eighty percent of the primary and secondary students in this inaugural class had never 3D printed before, and two-thirds had never used CAD. Now those same students are designing, programming and bringing their own digital models to life as printed objects. It’s magical and fuels student interest in STEM.”
This year, the Program includes a new subsidy program that allows any organization or individual to apply for a subsidy to purchase Polar Cloud-enabled 3D printers and curricula on behalf of educational institutions. The Program also welcomes new supporters and sponsors including Autodesk, BlocksCAD, Dremel, Flashforge, SME, and Ultimaker.
For more information, visit www.ge.com/additive.
To apply to the AEP, check out our handy guide to the GE Additive Program 2018 and then complete the online application form.
MAKERS EMPIRE: BETTER LEARNING BY DESIGN
