Abstract:

Within the framework of the INDIRE projects that since 2014 deal with the influence of the "maker philosophy” in the Italian School System, we found the needing to equip the teachers with instruments designed specifically for the school. Both the software and hardware’s school often are low-performing and sometimes are obsolete systems. In this context, this paper describes why, and how, we created a system made by the 3D design software called “SugarCAD” and the hardware called “in3Dire” optimized for the school. In3Dire is a RaspberryPi based system connected with a USB cable to the 3D printer that create a dedicated wi-fi network to let students print from the class without moving in the printer room. In addition to this, in3Dire provides access to SugarCAD. SugarCAD is a free 3D modeling software developed with web technologies usable from any modern web browser on every device, both touch (such as interactive white boarars or tablets) or “desktop” (such as standard PCs or laptops). The intention is to give to schools the possibility to collaborate to the INDIRE’s researches activities giving them the ability of drawing 3D object and print them, even in absence of a good DSL connection. The research project belongs to the project Maker@School led by Indire, National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research.

Keywords:

3D Design, 3D Printing, Cloud, Collaborative Learning, Didactic innovation.