Hello. I am Marcus Szeiman, once an Art teacher, then a journeyman aerospace mechanic, and now a STEM M.Ed. candidate at the American College of Education. I’ve come to accept that a life-less-ordinary is not a bad one. In fact, I’ve brought along with me skills and experiences that are diverse and exciting. I hope you find some connections to STEM, teaching strategies, and learning with technology through my eyes.

As I progress through my ACE experience, I have encountered an amazing amount of information on new educational practices, trends, and technology for 21st century learners. Initially, I imagined my future classroom as one where my current mechanical and electrical abilities would enable an engaging, integrated curriculum. While I still want to make smart, bio-remediating plants that live alongside us, I have discovered that the technology available today is what students will access and engage a highly connected variety of disciplines. Personal electronic devices allow instant experiences with learning that span history and the globe. Learners can visit places virtually while engaging the diversity of their own abilities through classroom management systems, tablets, digital tools, and social platforms.

This blog is designed to address the question of how 3D printing can benefit the classroom beyond its function as a tool of learning. My viewpoint is that it represents one of many tools for learning by engaging diverse learners and their learning styles. Additionally, I hope to provide ideas of how this technology can benefit teachers across the STEM disciplines and other subjects as well.