Canadian Academy Inspires Creativity, Fosters Design Thinking, with Builds Essential Skills for the Future with UltiMaker

At Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan, 3D printing is quickly becoming a staple in classrooms. In 2022, the international school added the UltiMaker 3D printing ecosystem to enhance the lesson plans and ignite students’ creativity.

Canadian Academy aims to inspire and develop students to positively impact the world through high-quality education. Early exposure to 3D printing is helping to lay a strong foundation for students, fostering skills in design thinking, engineering, and problem solving at a young age.

To further build these essential skills, the school added UltiMaker’s S series and Sketch series 3D printers and comprehensive teaching resources for educators, including training, lesson plans, and curriculum development.

From makerspaces to senior projects

The versatility of 3D printing at Canadian Academy is evident in its applications across the different grades and subjects. Elementary students predominantly use the technology in their makerspace class, where they engage in project-based learning that fosters creativity and critical thinking. Middle and high school students, on the other hand, apply 3D printing in various creative projects and assignments. This hands-on experience can help to support future academic and career journeys.

The lesson plans and projects are derived from resources such as Thingiverse Education or the MakerBot Educators Guidebook, both which offer a plethora of ideas, how-to’s, and inspirations for teachers to create and implement a fun, engaging, and successful learning environment. Students have also had the opportunity to leverage Thingiverse to augment their own designs and enhance their ideas.

The ISTE-certified MakerBot Certification programs provide a detailed overview of printer usage and maintenance, as well as curriculum development. These instructional trainings further enable teachers to seamlessly incorporate 3D printing into their lesson plans.

Shaping the next generation through 3D printing

Adding 3D printing to the mix enabled the school to equip students with valuable skills that can be applied beyond the classroom. 3D printing encourages students to think critically about design and functionality, fostering a deeper understanding of how things work and how they can be improved. Further, it allows students to bring their ideas to life, sparking creativity and innovation.