Taiscéalaí - 3D Printing and Sustainability for Primary Schools
Taiscéalaí – coming from the Irish word for ‘explorer’ – was an initiative which aimed to expand the reach and improve the quality of 3D printing education across Ireland at the primary school level. Taiscéalaí inspired children to learn about STEM and manufacturing in the classroom by using 3D printing elements tied to the primary school curriculum.
Over two years in 2023 and 2024, the project developed two learning resources to assist primary teachers to introduce 3D printing into their classrooms; a Teacher's Guide and a Student Workbook. These resources were co-created and co-designed in collaboration with primary school teachers - ensuring that the content and lessons are aligned to the primary school curriculum and include the appropriate support for teachers. These resources are freely available for teachers to download using the links below:
Taiscéalaí Teacher Guide
Taiscéalaí Student Workbook
Schools also participated in annual celebration events held at the state-of-the-art Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) facility in Mullingar, where students competed in a 3D design challenge, and saw manufacturing research come to life through robotics, virtual reality, 3D printing and more.
For any questions about the programme, please contact Michael at michael.golden@i-form.ie
Background
3D printing (known in the industry as additive manufacturing) is a key enabling technology of 'Industry 4.0' – a term used to signify the new era of industrial production, encompassing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and the Internet of Things. The Taiscéalaí program recognises that teachers are key influencers of the next generation, and aims to provide them with access to information and technology around the newest areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and manufacturing.
The program was funded through the Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)) Discover Programme Call, an annual programme that supports and encourages the public to engage with STEM.
The Taiscéalaí program was organised and delivered through a partnership between I-Form (the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing), Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), Creative Spark and Inspire3D.
