Tech Talk

Tech T@lk

Liam is like most 3rd graders. He loves Captain America, riding his bike, playing soccer, and of course he’s full of energy and optimism. Liam has also recently taken an interest in basketball and baseball, thanks to technology that allowed him to modify his hand. Liam was born with a physical deformity, leaving his left hand with a small thumb and underdeveloped fingers which made it impossible to grip certain objects. With the help of 3D-printing, and the efforts of eNABLE Lowell, an all-volunteer student team, Liam received a custommade artificial hand just for him. “I use it for grabbing toys and backpacks and balls. It’s really awesome,”

My Ninja said Liam.

Hand While Liam’s hand was new to him, it was also new to all the students in his small elementary school in Eliot where questions and curiosity were expected. To help Liam’s classmates understand how his hand worked, the school did a “show and tell” where Liam’s parents came and explained how the variety of 3D-hands Liam uses work, and what their capabilities are in terms of mobility. “He has more options for musical instruments and he can now hold his own trick-or-treat bag,” said Misty Haggerty, Liam’s mother.

The technology that makes Liam’s hand possible is also affordable, and in turn allows him to have a variety of hands that have different grips to do everything from climb monkey bars to hold a baseball bat to swing a golf club. A child can go through as many as a dozen artificial hands by the time he or she turns 18 years old. Traditional prosthetics can cost upwards of $10,000, but with 3D-printing and eNABLE, the financial burden for a family is eliminated. Through eNABLE, the prosthetic devices are provided free of charge, thanks to fundraising and sponsorships.

Liam’s friends have learned a lot about fundraising as well, and the need to help others through Liam’s story. The school used its annual reading challenge and fundraiser to raise money for Camp No Limits, a summer camp for children with limb loss. Thanks to Liam’s classmates, and their dedicated reading challenge, Liam will be able to attend Camp No Limits, at no cost to his family.

“I think the kids have a better understanding of prosthetics, that people are different and it doesn't have to limit them. Learning about Liam’s hand and raising money for a great cause has been very positive for our students,” said Ann Shisler, a teacher at the school who helped organize the reading service project.

3D-Printing

What could you do with a 3D-printer? Design custom frames

This is a good project for elementary students to practice geometry skills, measurements, and weights and balance. Students can all choose to create a custom frame, designed for the artwork of their choosing. To increase the challenge, ask students to design and print decorations they can add on to the frame.

Credit: Dremel Dreams, created by O’Donnell Learn

Design and Print to bring science to life

Teachers are using 3D-printers to print bugs, allowing students to first design the bugs and then print their own as a way to engage them in ecosystems, entomology and engineering all at the same time. Students realize the engineering aspects of the project as well, understanding they had to design the bug’s legs to make sure it supported the weight of the body.

Print Equations

With older students, you can use 3D-printers to print a representation of what an equation would look like allowing students to visualize the math problems with a 3D-object.