EdTech Insider

Do you remember playing with spinning tops as a kid? Now, imagine being able to design your own top on the computer and print it out in 3D! That’s exactly what students in our Career and Technology Studies class got to experience. In this series of lessons, we introduced students to the world of computer-assisted design (CAD) using Tinkercad.

Starting with a blank page, students put their imaginations to the test by planning and designing their own spinning top. Of course, there were some constraints to consider, such as the diameter not exceeding 3 cm and the height not exceeding 5 cm.

Once the designs were complete, it was time to bring them to life using a 3D printer. The excitement was palpable as students watched their designs come to spin before their eyes. After printing, it was time to test their creations. How long did they spin for? How heavy were they? What changes could be made to improve their performance?

Through this process of testing, adjusting, and printing again, students gained valuable hands-on experience with CAD and the 3D printing process. And, as a fun conclusion to the unit, we set up an enormous “Beyblade” style tournament, giving students the opportunity to show off their designs and compete against their peers!

It was amazing to see how engaged and inspired students were by this experience. Who knows where this computer-assisted design might take us in the future? The possibilities are truly endless.