The Albergaria-a-Velha teachers learn modulation and 3D printing techniques

The action, aimed mainly the computer science teachers but was open to other teachers from diferent areas, in order to provide the basic knowledge and techniques to create objects in three dimensions, which can serve as a positive reinforcement in daily teaching practices. The Municipality of Albergaria-a-Velha has provided each group with a 3D printer, which can now be used to boost creative moments with the students.

The training action is part of one of the nine activities recommended by Educ@RA, called Maker Space: Learning by doing. As the name implies, it is intended to develop the skills of creativity and experimentation, involving the learning of Science, Technology, Electronics, Art and Mathematics (CTEAM). In addition to Modulation and 3D Printing, actions will be developed in the area of Robotics and specific training in Programming and Robotics from Preschool to the 1st Cycle. Participation in the actions are free.

Educ@RA promotes the qualification of human resources and the school premises, the development of new areas to combat school dropout and the promotion of educational success. Also, it proposes nine activities aimed at different elements of the educational community and involving areas as different as community learning, maker spaces, classrooms of the future, entrepreneurship, citizenship or inclusion. In addition to the activities common to CIRA's 11 municipalities, each municipality develops actions to combat school drop-out appropriate to their specific reality.

The Educ@RA program includes 26 school groups in the 11 municipalities of CIRA and lasts for 36 months.

How does this contribute or impact the city of Albergaria?

The training actions in 3D printing were focused on technical issues in the handling of this typology of printers. Also, we proceeded with the elaboration of our own programs, the idealization of the project to be printed. This phase of training motivated the trainees a lot because it deconstructed the preconceptions about the complexity of the programming. The teachers chose to elaborate a medal with the ultimate aim of being given to students as a positive reinforcement. In other words, the training took on a character of training-action, immediately enhancing the versatility and usefulness of 3D printing.

This training took on a vast scope, from the point of view where the technology can be used in a personalized way. In parallel, the possibilities of using these potentialities in the context of the classroom were open. In fact, there is a range of these capabilities and usefulness for students. In this way, teachers have a special focus, in the promotion of activities using this technology, transfer and make technological literacy appealing to their students.

From the perspective of the City of Albergaria-a-Velha, the assumption of this training allowed a technically capable group of teachers to carry out this area in the pedagogical routine. In this sense, the competence for technology will be enhanced with students and the educational community. Probably, this action will be crucial when some students choose to continue their studies in areas related to technology as well as the immanence of innovation projects to be originated and implemented by residents of the City of Albergaria-a-Velha."