3D printing capabilities coming to CFHS
—Photo courtesy OTTO KITSINGER Martin Jones and Stefani Hoffman, teachers at Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School and Plummer’s Lakeside Junior/Senior High School, respectively, work on 3D printing projects at a recent Idaho STEM Action Center workshop at the Discovery Center of Idaho. They were among 20 teachers from 15 schools throughout the Gem State that the Digital Harbor Foundation trained and the STEM Action Center equipped to assemble and coach teams to vie in the Idaho FabSLAM competition. 3D printers work somewhat like ordinary printers, but instead of laying ink onto pape…
CLARK FORK — Clark Fork High School in Clark Fork is expanding its capabilities to include 3D printing, design and fabrication with help from the Idaho STEM Action Center.
Clark Fork teachers Martin Jones and Stefani Hoffman learned how to operate, maintain and troubleshoot 3D printers at a recent workshop the STEM Action Center held in Boise in partnership with the Discovery Center of Idaho and the Digital Harbor Foundation.
The professional development opportunity is part of FabSLAM, a team-based digital fabrication competition launched by the Digital Harbor Foundation where youth in Idaho, Baltimore and Pittsburgh practice design, iteration and rapid prototyping skills primarily focused on 3D design and 3D printing. With guidance from a coach, each team develops and documents a product that fits the annual theme and requirements. The competition culminates in a FabSLAM Showcase where teams present their products to a panel of judges and a public audience for review and feedback.
Twenty teachers from 15 schools throughout Idaho — including Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School — took part in the training. They also received brand-new 3D printers to bring back home to their schools, and they will assemble teams in their communities to participate in FabSLAM and serve as coaches.
Conceived in the office of Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, the Idaho STEM Action Center was approved during the 2015 legislative session to help produce a competitive workforce by implementing kindergarten-to-career science, technology, engineering and math education programs aligned with industry needs.
During the 2016 session, the Idaho Legislature set the STEM Action Center’s ongoing annual budget at $2.4 million, appropriated $2 million into a STEM Education Fund to help start up local STEM programs and approved the addition of a computer science program manager to oversee the Computer Science Initiative.
The Idaho STEM Action Center is part of the governor’s office and was created by state lawmakers in 2015 to enhance Idaho’s STEM environment by connecting resources, students, educators and businesses. The organization is working with industry, government, educators and students to develop new resources and support high-quality teacher professional-development opportunities to foster a STEM-educated workforce to ensure Idaho’s continued economic prosperity. Visit stem.idaho.gov for more information.
The Digital Harbor Foundation is dedicated to fostering learning, creativity, productivity and community through education. In 2013 it transformed a closed-down rec center in Baltimore into a vibrant tech center for youth. In 2014 it launched the Center of Excellence to train others how to incorporate making into their own learning environments. This year with help from the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Technology Councils of North America it expanded FabSLAM to Idaho and Pittsburgh. Visit digitalharbor.org for more information.
Founded in 1989, the Discovery Center of Idaho is an interactive science center that inspires lifelong interest and learning in STEM fields by providing exhibits and educational programs that offer authentic, sensory experiences making science, technology, engineering and math tangible. Visit dcidaho.org for more information.