3D Printing Interdisciplinary Learning for Complex Problems

Abstract

Since the initial introduction of 3D printing as a prototyping tool for pupils studying practical technology subjects, its use has rapidly expanded over the last few years as educators have started to explore its potential as a teaching tool in diverse subjects. Yet it is possible that its potential as an educational tool lies beyond the innovative subject-specific applications currently under development, in a more expansive role as a catalyst for interdisciplinary educational practices. This chapter considers the possibility that 3D printing provides a platform for interdisciplinary educational experiences, aligned to scholarship on the development of significant learning experiences grounded in practice and the empowering of learners through changing relationships in the classroom, for engagement with complex problems across traditional subject boundaries.