I like to make things.
This stems partly from a need to get the physical mechanical ideas that bounce around my head into the real world. Historically, this catharsis was only possible with pen-and-paper or a high powered CAD computer.
Now you can accomplish that on a tablet. TinkerCAD is an AutoDesk product that they have been using as their entry level 3D modelling technology and it is one that works very well with the touch-based interface of most tablets and phones.
The key, as with many recent developments in software, was the off-boarding of the processing power needed for CAD modelling to the AutoDesk servers. This cloud-based integration has been happening for a variety of applications and softwares including video games as the speed of our internet increases and makes it more and more sensible to do the graphics processing at a datacentre somewhere else (this is 100% the concept behind Chromebooks).
To take that even further, TinkerCAD now has integrated my favorite part of their 123D Designs platform, 123D Circuits.
Want to prototype how an electric circuit will operate? Done.
Need to know how your Micro:Bit will interact with the real world? Done.
Want to program an Arduino in virtual space without working about the quality of your connections? …this is just a me problem, isn’t it?
All of the tools to help you make those ideas in your head.
I am not a 3D expert of any kind, but trying Tinkercad after this introduction was surprisingly pleasant. Shapes were drag and drop and the whole experience felt easy for beginners to get started. In the classroom, I would love to use this as a chance to have students recreate settings from stories or movies. With a 3D printer, it would be great to see all the settings put together. The accessibility of Tinkercad as a web-based application is great and I can see it as a great way of having students build up their digital literacy.
This technology is becoming so intuitive, and I think more accessible to people who previously were afraid of the coding or programming considerations. The Grid3D app described in the AI Mobile Beast presentation apparently simplifies the process even further.
I agree Ryan, the most motivating learning problems are always based on real world problems.
When I teach any 3D modelling suite I make sure to note my obsession with the view-cube; it helps avoid the forced perspective problem caused by the 2D vantage point of a screen.
Lately the 3D printing has become better too as hobby grade printers for a classroom have dropped into the $300-$400 range.
Out of curiosity, what platform are your students using to build grow-bots? (automated gardens)
Tinkercad is so powerful for a web based application. It is imperative that students learn 3D perspective to be good designers in todays world. Students that have explored other 3D environments (Lego, Minecraft…) are innately better at using Tinkercad. One mistake that students often make with 3D design is they build their model from one single perspective without every rotating their workplane. Then when they finally do change the perspective, nothing is aligned. This is an important less for many and I like to think its a metaphorical-social lesson as well. The real magic with these tools is when we get to print or build something based on the design. Many activities in education tend to stay in the abstract realm so making something a reality is motivating for students. When using the Tinkercad suite for a project, I like to start with just play to learn and experiment but then quickly move onto a project with a goal. We try to create new inventions to solve real world problems, at the student level of course. Students have made custom water bottle savers for their desk, iPad stands, and automated watering systems for a garden.