14 DAY TRIAL // 3D printing technology has been getting more and more popular, to the point where some schools have begun to include extracurricular lessons about how to pull it off. One teacher has shown a remarkable aptitude in getting his point across.
Depending on how you present 3D printing to a classroom, it can be a resounding success or a dismal failure. Attention has to be nursed carefully after all.
Especially when the majority of your students aren't likely to ever own one of those things (3D printers).
Allowing them to use the school's 3D printer is a nice enough solution for that, but even then you won't just see them flock to the idea.
Unless you do something that really impresses them and, why not, caters to their cravings for sweets at the same time.
Teacher 3D prints a jelly bean dispenser
This was the method chosen by Corben White, 3rd year Industrial Technology teacher working at both Shelbyville and Windsor High Schools in Illinois.
It took around six hours to print every one of the parts, but the final product was something anyone could use, even small children.
The dispenser (called quite empathetically THE Jelly Bean Dispenser) will be brought to whatever events he holds in the future to promote his CAD classes and 3D printing technology in general.
In the future, White will add a knob and an adjustable shaft to his creation, but for now it does well enough as proof of concept.
After it has been assembled, you only pour the jelly beans inside (through the top opening), or other candy, and turn the knob to drop them out one by one.
Future plans
White will probably be brainstorming with other teachers from educational institutions around the United States in the future. Meanwhile, he will oversee projects carried out by his own students, both set by him and chosen by them independently.
If he or someone else creates, say, a 3D printed drink machine, we'll be sure to let you know. Maybe plastic knockoffs of what would otherwise be woodworking projects? Only time will tell.
