By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
It’s been a long time coming for Dyer Intermediate School teacher Anneka Thompson and a handful of her students, but starting in the fall, students will put 3D printing into action for the school.
After applying for three years in a row, Thompson finally received a $3,000 grant through the Forward Together program with the Wisconsin Educators Association Trust.
While the school already has one 3D printer, Thompson plans to use the money to purchase a second one and make the school group Techno Dragon Designs able to produce products and sell them through the school store.
Thompson got the school’s first 3D printer through DonorsChoose.org, “kind of like GoFundMe for education,” Thompson said.
“It was fully funded in a week,” she added.
The WEA grant will allow her to purchase a second 3D printer, plus filament for the machine. The Techno Dragons will then put the designs they have been working on at school into practice, making items such as pencil holders.
“Things kids need or want,” Thompson said. “They have all sorts of ideas. They’ve already started designing them.”
Techno Dragons Design is an after-school club, with more than 60 students members. There, they learn the 3D printing process and how to write code, and also circuit building.
“Basically, technology-related projects,” Thompson said.
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