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I've heard of 3D printers before. I thought it would be interesting to try out in schools. For example, if students were designing towns to learn volume and surface area. This could help with spatial learning, which is essential to understanding math. I don't know how feasible this it though...

Hi Irina, Yes! Nothing like seeing your ideas take a concrete shape. Looks like the cost of these printers is comparable to that of SmartBoards, so it may be feasible to try them out in classrooms pretty soon. That said, unless the projects are well integrated into the curriculum, they will end up as another fancy toy.

Harvey and I had a conversation about these last week - Harvey spoke of the way that these printers could open up opportunities for those who can visualize their creations in their heads, but have trouble putting those ideas in tangible form. We spoke of the potential in art and design.

With the global focus on combating digital piracy while protecting people's free speech and rights on the internet (the current controversies over SOPA, for example), here is a thought-provoking idea about what the future of IP, digital piracy, and citizenship will have to deal with: 3D printers- as they become cheaper, better, and more mainstream... will designs for actual physical objects become what is easily pirated online? So now, you can make a physical object (toys, clothing, etc) by downloading the design files on pirate sites, then make the object yourself. Will digital piracy extend into theft (making unauthorized copies) of physical objects?

3D printers making innovative toys possible

A darker side to an emerging technology?

MakerBot just came out with its second generation or 3D printers--MakerBot Replicator 2.

In a few years, when we all own 3D printers and can download and print any number of objects (including 20,000 year old fossils), what will the implications be for teaching and learning when we can present our students and our teachers with the physical manifestations of things we've traditionally learned and taught about only in the abstract through textbooks or videos?

Mark Reford, who heads the school, and Michael Zeigler, the school's technology director and a teacher, said a new course marries the worlds of art and technology for middle school students, promotes higher-order thinking and gives kids insight into the future of manufacturing. 3D printers are not new but If you 've never heard of them it is a fun technology to investigate.