Teaching STEM / STEAM with Rapid Prototyping

Presenters: Syd Telek & Veronica Newton

Thursday, 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM, Pinnacle C

STEM and STEAM have become essential components of K-12 education, offering incredible hands-on opportunities with cross-disciplinary approaches. These strategies provide learners with unique outlets to explore, create, and engage with real-world concepts in meaningful ways. One powerful way to bring STEM/STEAM to life is through rapid prototyping, which blends tools, software, creativity and practical problem-solving. This presentation will focus on three key rapid prototyping tools: 3D printers, laser engravers, and vinyl cutters. It aims to provide an understanding of these tools, demonstrate how they can be used to spark learners' curiosity, drive engagement, and show how rapid prototyping equipment can be woven into the curriculum. Additionally, it will guide participants on how to embed maker education into their own curricula to help foster and enhance learner engagement in the classroom.