Thermohaline circulation is a foundational concept in introductory and advanced undergraduate oceanography courses which describes the density-driven flow of water throughout the world's oceans. This concept is commonly taught using two-dimensional (2D) diagrams and graphics. However, students often struggle with the three-dimensional (3D)…

This study explores humour's role in a holistic craft process when 7-8-year-olds design personalised soft toys. Humour enhances learning environments by fostering joy, belonging and a positive atmosphere, acting as a motivational tool in experiential and arts-based learning. The study aims to answer the following questions: (1) What are the…

Creativity and problem-solving are 21st-century skills that we need to develop in our students. Research on computational thinking (CT) integration in school subjects and STEAM activities has shown a positive effect on students' problem-solving skills and creativity. Our study extends our previous work from the integration of CT in a mathematics…

In this paper we present a collaborative 3D modeling and printing experience within a Project Based Learning (PBL) activity, carried out with two different groups of participants: pre-service teachers at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), and school students of Primary and Secondary level taking part in an extra-curricular activity.…

Picture students huddled around a 3D printer in a middle school classroom. They gaze at the object being printed, and exclamations of, "Where is that flag from?" "What does that symbol mean?" and "Oh; I didn't think of that!" can be heard. These examples of observation, curiosity, and critical thinking are the elusive…

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the activities designed with 3D printing technology on the teaching of the sixth-grade systems in our body unit and to determine the views of students on this technology. In this study, a mixed research design in which quantitative and qualitative research methods are used together was…

Courses at the postsecondary level continue to rely heavily on visual material that is accessible only to fully or partially sighted students. Tactile graphics work for many pedagogical purposes, but in some cases are insufficient; other information and concepts may be better conveyed through haptic exploration of 3D printed objects. However,…

Chemical educators are facing a new generation of instructional technologies that impact classroom teaching. New technologies, like smartphones, cloud computing and artificial intelligence take learning beyond the classroom; 3D printing, virtual reality, and augmented reality provide new ways to teach the virtualization skills that are important…

Makerspaces have been heralded as an effective way to support the development of 21st Century and STEM capabilities, yet there is a paucity of systematic, multiple-case analysis to guide educator and researcher practice. This collective case study examined 24 primary school classroom contexts to understand what supports and constrains learning and…

3D design software is a commonly used interactive learning tool in STEM education. It is generally believed that 3D design can effectively train students' spatial thinking and engineering design abilities. There have been many theoretical and practical achievements in the application of 3D printing education, but the evaluation of 3D design is…

Students often approach biochemistry with a degree of trepidation with many considering it one of the more difficult subjects. This is, in part, due to the necessity of making visual images of submicroscopic concepts. Molecular interactions underpin most biological processes; therefore, mastering these concepts is essential. Understanding the…

Digital fabrication and "3D Making" are prominent recent additions to school curricula, hastened by the increased affordability of Computer Assisted Design software and devices such as 3D printers. It is increasingly argued that classroom use of these technologies can re-orientate schools towards forms of skills and knowledge appropriate…

Picture this: a PhD chemist, PhD science educator, and a preservice Latina elementary educator walk into an aftercare program for primary and intermediate students from a rural school. These students are identified as low income and at risk and therefore eligible to participate in this school-provided aftercare. While across the state, these same…

Environmental education is intended to increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and enhance individuals' problem-solving and decision-making skills by tackling problems in the real world. "Maker education," on the contrary, mostly relies on "problem-based" and "project-based learning"…

This article considers the potential of 3D printing as an eLearning tool for design education and the role of eMaking in bringing together the virtual and the physical in the design studio. eLearning has matured from the basics of lecture capture into sophisticated, interactive learning activities for students. At the same time, laptops and…