“Making” is the new do it yourself for the digital age. With FabLab, we’ve introduced a new laboratory for schools with the goal of permanently integrating modern digital fabrication technology into school education. From a didactic point of view, Making promotes team skills and solution-oriented thinking, as well as interdisciplinary learning strategies through shared use.

FabLab Kamp-Lintfort gives children and young adults ideas and opportunities to become responsible shapers of the digital world. Our first groups of young people are already constructing their own 3D printers in a series of workshops offered at no charge by the zdi Centre Kamp-Lintfort. In teams they learn everything needed to build and operate a 3D printer, from basic components, to how stepper motors work, to integrating Arduino circuitry and, finally, using software to control the printing process. The 3D printers they build will be donated to schools for use in the classroom.

The zdi Centres at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and experts from the district government have collaborated for years on ways to support teachers and train pupils for the 21st century. These efforts are backed by the “Medienpass NRW”, a modern skills framework and guideline for teachers. By contributing to this framework, we’re promoting new qualification paths for teachers in the use of 3D printers and the accompanying software. At the same time, we’re developing our own teaching materials for 3D printing that aim to introduce robotics, electrical engineering, CAD, 3D printing and computer science to new audiences of young adults in interesting and engaging ways.

3D printing technology has a wide variety of applications in school classrooms, whether as a tool for prototyping, production or development, or as a modelling, design or visualisation aid. But most importantly, 3D printing is fun, interesting and enriching, whether in the classroom, in teams, school companies or project courses!

Learning by doing is a hallmark of FabLabs. Users learn with and from one another, and not just adults, either. Around the world, new initiatives are emerging to teach complex technologies like 3D printing, laser cutting, microprocessor programming and robotics to children and young adults. These teaching approaches are inherently interdisciplinary,

Incorporating maths, science, geography, art and physics. In the UK, for example, the national curriculum developed by the Department for Education requires public schools to teach computer-based product design and 3D modelling, and aims to make 3D printers standard in every British school in the near future.

• has a wide variety of applications in numerous fields
• is exceptionally suited for team-based product development and for training practical creativity and problem-solving skills
• integrates general subject-related skills with computer skills, as well as modern planning and construction approaches
• creates new planning and construction potential that was previously unheard of in schools
• prepares children and young adults for future careers
• combines highly demanded technical skills like 3D modelling and CAD, enhancing young peoples’ skill sets and application profiles.