Naomi Meredith  00:00

How can you implement 3D printing in meaningful ways? 3D printing isn't as complicated as you might think and there are so many possibilities with it when using this type of creation with students of all ages. In today's episode, I'm talking with Bruce Wyman. We connected online when Bruce first moved to Colorado, which is where I live, and I even got to see his classroom virtually. We met up in person and talked so much about STEM and 3D printing. We had a great breakfast, and I could totally see his passion when it comes to creation, and especially 3D printing. So I knew from there once I got the podcast going, which we are here today, that I needed him on the show. Bruce Wyman is an experienced STEM professional business owner of 3D Protect me, and an environmental advocate with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. He is skilled in STEM based activities, all things 3D, and educational organizations. He previously taught elementary STEM and is currently teaching in the middle school space. You're going to get some great information in this episode today on how to add 3D printing into your instruction, as well as some insight with some differences between elementary and middle school creation. Excited for you to listen to today's episode. 

Naomi Meredith  01:53

Well, thank you, Bruce, so much for being here today. After all the technical issues, how many STEM teachers does it take to get into a podcast? We made it. So if the audio is a little off, I had to unplug my microphone. But we're here, we're doing this and I know we're gonna have a lot of great stuff, chatting together today. So thanks for agreeing to do this. I don't know how we connected. I think you reached out to me, I can't remember. But I remember having a Zoom meeting with you. You were setting up your classroom and I was looking at your elementary classroom when you moved to Colorado.

Bruce Wyman  02:32

Yeah, that was that, and that classroom was enormous. It was a former Kindergarten classroom. This year, my class is about a third of the size and I have 13 3D printers in there, so we're pretty tight.

Naomi Meredith  02:45

Okay, well, that's perfect. Because we're talking about 3D printing. You have 13? That's amazing!

Bruce Wyman  02:51

Yeah, I'm pretty fortunate for sure.

Naomi Meredith  02:53

Oh, my gosh, I'm so jealous. Well, I know we're gonna get into all things 3D printing. That's why I have you on here because we have a lot of experience with this. But if you wouldn't mind, before dive into that, tell us about yourself and your teaching background. You have an interesting background because you were in elementary, and now you're in middle school, which I think a lot of teachers can connect with. So if you wouldn't mind chatting about who you are.

Bruce Wyman  02:56

I wouldn't mind at all. Thanks a lot for having me on. I really appreciate your time. Sorry about the technical snafu. You could blame it on me to your listeners. Yes, well, I was a well, first of all, Dad. I'm a dad and a husband with two kids. But then I would like say teaching is definitely the number three thing in my life for sure. Yeah, so I got into it about maybe 15 years or so ago when my kids were little. I was coaching them and I was like, you know, this is kind of like teaching so maybe I'll transition into teaching. I have and so far it's been pretty good. Did one of those career switcher type programs from the corporate world into teaching. My first year I taught Kindergarten, which nearly killed me, but it was super awesome. And then most of the time I have for about nine years I've taught sixth grade and then a couple years in middle school and it's my sixth year as a STEM teacher. So super excited.

Bruce Wyman  03:20

Oh, that's super cool. How long have you been out in Colorado? Did you only teach at one school for one year? Or was that a couple years? I can't remember how long.

Bruce Wyman  03:55

Yeah, we're about halfway through our second year. First year I was a K through five STEM teacher and this year the middle school teacher that I had found out that I had a 3D printing background so she said would you like to teach 3D printing and 3D design all day? I'm like wow, that sounds pretty cool. So that's what I'm doing. I had to create a curriculum, which was really hard but with your help with all the all the teachers PE teacher things that you provided me it got got me got me going really easily. Thank you for that.

Naomi Meredith  04:54

Ah, you're welcome. I thought it was helpful because that you have way more experience in 3D printing than I do so that means a lot because like, you know, with a lot of this STEM stuff is just a lot of trial and error and trying things out and see what's going to work and what do the students like. So that's really awesome. How has the transition to middle school been? Have you seen a huge difference? Like, is there a lot? How did the kids react to 3D printing? I know the little kids are obsessed with it. How's it been with middle school?

Bruce Wyman  05:25

Yeah, it's been really cool that, like you said, elementary kids are completely obsessed. We find kids when the 3D printers are running, they'll just stare at it for hours and hours and hours. So getting their attention sometimes away from the 3D printing, to the teaching is a challenge at times, but it's okay, it's fine. Middle school kids, same way. I mean, I'm in a low income area and these kids just didn't have any exposure or background in 3D printing. So when they first see these things, it's kind of the same thing. I can see those little elementary eyes inside those giant middle school heads. They seem to like it so far. They like to, you know, the projects we're doing and just to see this thing, create you know it, they're pretty cool. If you've ever seen one of your viewers, or I know you've seen them and worked with them. It's pretty cool. The first time you're exposed to it.

Naomi Meredith  06:14

Oh, yeah, they're super! I thought they were more complicated than what they actually are. I had, there's this really good video I show my students, you might have watched it with your kids. But it's I think it's National Geographic Kids, and they explain it that it's like a hot glue gun icing a cake. So it's just basically melting the plastic and a pattern, which, oh, that's a great explanation for it.

Bruce Wyman  06:37

Yeah, I use that at the beginning of the semester. So far, I've used the Nat Geo Kids.

Naomi Meredith  06:43

Yeah. Okay. Okay. I thought that's what it was. I don't know if I'm right about that. Um, so like, when you're teaching your classes, because you said the kids haven't seen it, like, how do your classes go? Because they might not have a whole lot of experience. Have you found that as a middle school kid, when they're going into 3D design, How is that transition for them? Because I can imagine just based on their technology skills, it's it would just change how you teach your projects.

Bruce Wyman  07:10

It's, it's really true. One of the first things we use is a 3D pen. Like when I tried to introduce them 2D versus 3D, we use an online program called Doodle 3D, which is just a free open source thing, which is kind of fun. So they can see on the split screen, 2D versus 3D. They just use their finger on an iPad and it creates 3D, and then the actual 3D pens, they can actually create three dimensional things in the classroom. So that's, that's kind of a cool way to transition or, you know, share the concept of 3D to them. Because again, a lot of them just don't have that background.

Naomi Meredith  07:44

Hmm, that's a really, that is so smart to do that. I haven't used the 3D pens in there. I have one. Actually, Tiana. I'm pretty sure it's Tiana. She was on this podcast, she got a grant for 3D pens. Would you recommend getting those for the classroom? I haven't used them.

Bruce Wyman  08:00

I have the first one I bought when when before we moved here, my wife and I moved here. We were in the Washington, D.C, area for a long time. I used, I can't remember the name of the company, but it was this plastic one. It wasn't very good. But if it's okay, I can tell you the name of the company, the ones we use now. 

Naomi Meredith  08:16

Oh, yeah. Tell me. 

Bruce Wyman  08:17

Yeah, it's Mynt 3D, M-Y-N-T 3D. They're fantastic.

Naomi Meredith  08:23

Okay, I'm going to link this and look it up. So they don't clog as often as like those cheap ones.

Bruce Wyman  08:28

Haven't had a single clog. 

Naomi Meredith  08:30

Oh, that's so good. Okay, that's good to know. Because, yeah, that can be really frustrating.

Bruce Wyman  08:36

Right! The first ones I bought, were terrible. They clog all the time.

Naomi Meredith  08:41

Okay, that's good to know. I'm gonna find this and we'll link it. So I think you have all this experience. But your story when you were talking to me about this, I think your story about with 3D printing is so interesting. I think it's so valuable and helpful for the kids. So if you wouldn't mind sharing, what is your background in 3D printing? I know you had a business that related, which is super cool.

Bruce Wyman  09:05

Yeah, I mean, hopefully the your listeners will think it's interesting. Yeah, so I find out about this company, again, in the Washington, D.C. area that they were a 3D printing reseller, and they were looking for a teacher. I had zero experience in 3D printing. So I didn't have a clue what I was doing. What worked for these guys, they said, don't worry, we want a teacher because we want to sell these printers to the schools. So they needed someone who could speak to teachers and administrators and decision makers in the schools. I had a little bit of a business background so I was a sort of a business consultant for them. They got me up to speed on the 3D printers, 3D scanning, 3D design, you know, the CAD design stuff, so I learned a lot from them. Then we went into the schools and we sold them. I started my own business called 3D Me and we did stuff in the schools as well. We also did work with the fitness industry to make ends meet. We were doing this during COVID as well. I actually teamed up with a guy from Eastern Europe and we made PPD 3D printed PPE things for for people.

Naomi Meredith  10:12

Oh, that's so that's so smart and just like make it more accessible. I know, I was 3D printing some ears savers during that time, and I actually got my 3D printers a few weeks before the shutdown. So I brought them home and I was printing some of that. But I mean, you know, the filament isn't that expensive when in consideration. So that's really cool, you're able to help out and that way was your background. That's a good story for your students to have. Okay, so you have a picture about you and this machine. So back to your fitness industry? How did that connect with 3D printing? Because there's a picture you sent me and you're standing in this machine, like, how does that all connect together?

Bruce Wyman  10:57

Yeah, I couldn't afford a machine like that. Because those are $100,000 machines. It's a 3D scanner, that's got about 130 cameras in it that all take a picture at the same time. It captures this figure for you to be able to 3D print. I've got a a 3D scanning device that was made for the fitness industry. So you stand on this thing and you spin around, and I've shown the kids I have it in my classroom, you have to come and see.

Naomi Meredith  11:23

This thing you have in your classroom?

Bruce Wyman  11:25

I do, you should come get a scan of this thing. I could create a 3D full size Naomi. I did this for the teachers, I made about 30 or 40 of them this year. That was so cool. You have to get it, I'll just send you the files for free for nothing. 

Naomi Meredith  11:40

That is so nice. I know I need to see this. Like, I mean it just visually. So does it just scan you and creates a model or does that gather other data as well?

Bruce Wyman  12:02

It does what this was, again, created for the fitness industry. So it actually gives you data on your body measurements. It's actually used for fitness, the fitness industry. So it gives you you know how big your wrist is, or your neck or legs or whatever. So people use it for weight loss. But also we've found that people who are like bodybuilders, they want to track their weight, their muscle gain grew over time. So we've actually have used this with personal trainers as well.

Naomi Meredith  12:34

Oh, that's awesome. That's okay, so you have all this cool stuff. You like the perfect stuff for a 3D classroom? So what do you teach with the kids when they're like thinking about your year, and even taught, you could talk about what you've done in elementary. I know you did some 3D printing. What are some favorite projects you've done with your students? And how do you make this relevant for them? Because I know a lot of times, teachers when they think about 3D printing, it seems overwhelming. Also, what is the point? I've also heard teachers like should I even teach 3D printing? Like why does that matter?

Bruce Wyman  13:09

Right? Yeah, well, I've found too just the searching when I started this program in middle school, it's really hard to find 3D printing curriculum. I mean, I look everywhere. One British company that had some pretty good supplemental stuff. But as far as projects go, we did a kids made a custom fridge magnet that had their name and pictures and different things on it for their, you know, to take home to their family. We did piggy banks, which was kind of cool, because then you have to design you know, get a figure, but then you have to make it hollow. So that was a little bit of a challenge for the kids in the design process. We made cellphone stands, we did board games, and a lot of these kids didn't know what a board game was. 

Naomi Meredith  13:10

Interesting!

Bruce Wyman  13:11

They created a board game. Then they had to make their own custom player pieces. Then they get to play each other's games, which was kind of fun. But my favorite one is the way the kids had to choose a favorite teacher and then they designed a manipulative based on a lesson that they've used. They had the right to have a formal letter and then give them give them the 3D printed device. I couldn't believe the reception and the impact it made in my school. My principal was just they were all just kind of blown away. You know, nothing great that I did. It's just the kids that kids does such a great job with that project. I think I share that with you. I'm not sure.

Naomi Meredith  14:29

I think you did. What were some of the things that they made? Like what were some of the examples?

Bruce Wyman  14:33

Yeah, they made for the science teacher I saw there was an animal, cell there was a plant cell, or the history teachers they did I mean all kinds of historic buildings. They did compass rose for geography, but I know a bunch of my kids did an Edgar Allan Poe like a raven and different things for literature. I mean, it was  wide open. It was amazing. They probably did hundreds of different things that they did. Customized and they put their name, they use the CAD software to put their name on the model, and then give it to the teachers. I think some of the teachers were crying when they received these from some of the kids. Yeah, it was pretty much and it was crushed. I'm always looking for more stuff like that I'm trying to create more cross curricular because I don't want it to be just technology, we print out a little gadget and then they you know, use it or you know, fidgets spinner, whatever.

Naomi Meredith  15:24

Oh, yeah. 100%. Like, and then that's so good that you said that, because I've had kids who've come into my class from other schools in my district or not. And they see if 3d printers are like, Oh, you have a 3d printer, can I just like, send you all this stuff to print? That's what my old school did. And I'll say, you know, we're gonna actually create something. That's the I'm glad you're excited about it. But I think that's important, too, that we need to have students be creating with this technology. Literally, just finding something and printing it is kind of just being a consumer, they're not really doing anything with that item. So I know that can be hard. I mean, it is hard. That's good. That means their brains working, that's a good challenge for them to create something out of, did you do the same projects in elementary school as well? Or did you do other things with your kids?

Bruce Wyman  16:18

We did, I guess we did, we didn't really do a lot of the design. I exposed them to Tinkercad, which was our favorite CAD design software, which is good for beginners. So they did work with that. They did design a few things I was able to print out, you know, one thing for each kid, but I had, you know, as you I think you're aware of I was a K-five STEM teacher and I have over 500 kids. And we know that 3D printing is not lightning fast. So it's nothing, but every kid got to design one thing and have to keep the one thing too. So at a smaller scale for sure. 

Naomi Meredith  16:51

Now, I can say I do also one for every kid. I say I'm actually starting. So we're, we are recording in February, I'm going to start in like a week. So end of February, I will be printing for the rest of the school year. So you know, it takes a long time. So if it's teachers, I know, like I said, it can be scary with 3D printing. And some teachers actually don't even have 3D printers. So are there any tips that teachers should be aware of? So like, if someone doesn't have a 3D printer? What could they do now? And then if they do have a 3D printer, what do you recommend?

Bruce Wyman  17:32

Right? If they don't have a 3D printer, actually, there's a lot of local libraries that have that. You can use them so the teacher could use that. But then again, you know, it could get expensive, and there's the you know, the time constraints. Do you want to sit there for six hours while these things are printing? The 3D pens are a really good way to, you know, to start with this type of thing and too so the kids can understand the difference between 2D and 3D, so the pens are nice. If you don't have a 3D printer, you can you can actually find them now for about $300 or $400. So they're not terribly expensive for pretty good printers. Maybe find somebody who has one. There's actually here in Denver area, there's a place called, oh gosh, but it's like there's a Makerspace. A lot of major cities have maker spaces where you can go and experiment with them. Tinkermill, I believe is the place here in Denver. But you know, start using Tinkercad, the 3D design software, it's open source and free. So that's probably the best way to do that just to get up to speed slowly or, I mean, they could they could email me. Oh, that's true. As well, Teachers Helping Teachers.

Naomi Meredith  18:44

Oh, yeah, absolutely. I think that's so smart. Like, you maybe not even starting with the kids right away. I remember, like I said, I had no experience with this. I had a classroom with an old 3D printer. I travel a lot. One year we went to Chicago for summer, and we went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Have you been to that museum?

Bruce Wyman  19:06

Yes. Amazing.

Naomi Meredith  19:09

Oh, it's so good. I've been twice. I love that museum. But anyway, they have like special experiences you can do. I ended up taking one about 3D printing that was for children. So it was me and a bunch of kids and adults teaching it. But I told the instructors, I'm a teacher, I don't know how to teach 3D printing. I really just want to hear you explain it to other kids. And just hearing the vocabulary that they used and it was super helpful. What I made was super ugly, and they printed it. But it was really helpful just hearing that language. So I absolutely agree just even watching other people teach or playing around with it. I've also recommended Tinkercad like you said. I've had teachers create items with Tinkercad so they can do a whole project. But maybe they just can't print it that year. And that's okay, they can still do the whole project. And really, I don't know about you, but I feel like with 3D printing, a lot of the actual printing is teacher management anyway, at least in elementary, it's not really on the students at that point, like all the design they can do. And then it's up to you as a teacher to manage the rest.

Bruce Wyman  20:28

Right. It's important also, that my first week when I teach these things now, especially in middle school, is 3D printing safety because that nozzle can get really, really hot. So I show the kids how to use different tools. So when they take their print off the model off, it has those supports, sometimes depending on what you're building, and they love taking the supports off their own models.

Naomi Meredith  20:52

Oh, yeah, that's really good. Yeah, especially with middle school, they can definitely do that stuff. So that if a teacher does have a 3D printer, so okay, they have let's say they have one now, they've done some trainings, like, what would you recommend, like getting into that? Like, then where should you start after that, with 3D printing? 

Bruce Wyman  21:14

Yeah, I mean, I would teach them the three ways that you can create a model. So one is download free like on something like Thingiverse. There's tons of free models online. It'd be great if they could show the kids in some way 3D scanning. They're 3D scanners that you can just attach to an iPad. Those work pretty well to capture a 3D image. Then the other one is on like, on Tinkercad, where you go and create it yourself. So Tinkercad is really a fantastic, again, open source, free software type of thing that integrates really well with 3D printing, the 3D pens. Yeah, as soon as they get the the printer, a lot of the companies also will provide some curriculum, and provide support, depending upon the you know, the printer that you get, and then you know, things like YouTube and you know, online, there's so many great starter lessons, or you can reach out to Naomi on teachers pay teach.

Naomi Meredith  22:12

I do have some lessons with 3D printing. Yeah, I use Tinkercad with second through fifth grade, my first project I ever did was with fourth and fifth grade. This is with literally no experience, and they created a bubble wand. I also had to explain what a bubble wand is. So that was just like with you and board games. So they created a bubble wand that could be given to our before and after care program for the summer. So that could be an activity for the kids to use. I actually didn't print all of their designs, because I knew I wouldn't have time, my printer was super old at the time. So what they had to do is convince me and sell me on as to why their bubble wand should be chosen and kind of write a persuasive piece to me and sell it. And sometimes some simple designs actually sold me based on their writing. So that was a good starter project. I don't do that one anymore. But it was simple enough where students were in Tinkercad, like using the given shapes. I feel like it's like building with digital blocks. That's what I tell them. It's just mushing digital blocks together. So a bubble wand is not super complicated. So that was a fun starter project, you could really look into the standards. For math when it comes to shapes and geometry, I feel like there's so much math when it comes to 3D printing. Have you seen that as well with the math piece?

Bruce Wyman  23:42

Yeah, when we did the cell phone stands, that they had to measure their phones, because they're all different sizes. So they actually and we talked, and we left I intentionally left ours on millimeters, because I wanted them to learn metric. And so we they had to measure how wide their phone was so they could create the right size standard and you know, doing prototyping and making mistakes. You know, I'm a big promoter of making mistakes and fixing it using the Engineering Design Process and going through that. That whole thing is really, really useful. Or things like keychains? That's a really good one to start with, too. I think Tinkercad has got some really good introductory keychain things too. I'd love the bubble one. I haven't seen that one. I love that idea.

Naomi Meredith  24:26

Yes, feel it especially um, yeah, if you're getting started with kids, and I don't think it was my original idea to be honest. Or even if it was an after school club, I love doing after school clubs and I know you're running one, you said. But after school clubs are an awesome way to try things because if 3D printing is scary, host an after school club and you guys figure out 3D printing together. Then maybe next year, you're ready to do it as a unit for fourth and fifth grade. And then the next year you do second and third grade and then after that k-1. I am crazy in doing K-five, but I did. I wasn't like that the first year. So it does take a lot of growth, for sure. And just being more confident in what you're printing, I feel like, because it's a lot.

Bruce Wyman  25:15

Agreed, yeah, when we, actually that middle school principal just asked me if I'd be willing to teach a 3D printing to classmates. So in the fall, for the next level, doing predominantly problem based type things and project based type things, those are two are two big things. And you know, we do everything collaborative.

Naomi Meredith  25:35

Yes. That's good to know. Because you would think with 3D printing, it's on the computer, you can't collaborate? How do your students collaborate on their projects? Like how do you have them work together? Because it is based on the computer? And some people have misconceptions about that? 

Bruce Wyman  25:50

I know, right? Well, I'm just super intentional, when I put together the grading rubric and put together the instructions and put together all the things where it's kind of I don't want to say forced collaborations. Because a lot again, I see a lot of students these days, at least in middle school and upper elementary have a really hard time collaborating, you know, dealing with, you know, with groups of people and knowing that if you're in a group, and I tell them the same thing with teachers, if I'm in a group of teachers, there's usually at least one teacher that might not be my favorite teacher, but I need to be able to work with that teacher. So those types of skills are really, really important. And again, sometimes it doesn't work out. Sometimes there's plenty of ways that we, you know, we have to change groups, or we figure out a different way to collaborate. But you know, it's a good good lesson for you know, later when they are doing more of that stuff in high school or, you know, eventually having jobs. Having to deal with people that may, it may be a struggle or challenge for sure.

Naomi Meredith  26:50

You're not just teaching a 3D printing class, you're teaching them those soft skills. That's what we're in the business of secretly, we have the cool tools, but really, we're teaching them things that they're going to use the rest of your life, that most of them might not even use 3D printing, but they need to know how to be nice, even though they're not their BFF forever.

Bruce Wyman  27:09

Right? Yeah, I've heard that. As far as STEM goes, I read somewhere recently, that close to 70% of the future jobs are going to come under that STEM umbrella. So is it important? Yes, it is.

Naomi Meredith  27:22

Absolutely, I completely agree. Okay, any last things that teachers should know, if they're scared of trying 3D printing or anything else that they should know if you were to even to tell your past self, about 3D printing? What would you say?

Bruce Wyman  27:40

Yeah, I would say first thing is don't be scared of 3D printing. It may look daunting, just like any new concept, or new technology or something like that. It's not super difficult. A lot of the printers now are just plug and play. You know, once you just win it, I mean, again, it's a printer just like you think like the 2D printers, the old Xerox, HP, whatever printers, you hit a button and it prints. Most of the fun creative part comes beforehand, you know, when you're doing the creative portion of it. So I think having fun with the creative part of it, because when it comes to the printer, you know, the difficult one of the more difficult things is the maintenance. So getting to know your machine is good and experimenting with materials as well is a good thing. And then again, to reiterate, don't be afraid because if I can do it, and any of you guys can do it as well.

Naomi Meredith  28:33

I agree and it's so much fun. You feel so proud of yourself that things get printed. I get excited, like oh my gosh, it printed I can't believe it or the best, I don't know if you do this. The best is when you leave a print before you leave school and you come back in the morning and there's no errors and it works.

Bruce Wyman  28:54

Right that's really true. We used to, at the last company I worked at, they actually they set up a program where they had cameras to monitor the prints and then they could remotely, we had smart switches, stop the print to save the material if something went wrong.

Naomi Meredith  29:10

That's awesome. I feel like my printers do that. I think mine do have cameras. Nice. Very cool. Well, thank you so much for chatting with me. I just remember when we chatted in person and was like I have to have you on my podcast and I don't think my podcasts was a thing yet. You and I were talking about I was gonna do one and then I just knew with all of your knowledge and expertise that I would have to have you on here and I know you're being even modest because you know a lot more than you even say you know sometimes but you're super helpful and all your information will be linked to in the show notes. But is there any specific place that you would prefer for teachers to reach out to you?

Bruce Wyman  29:50

Um, yep, my personal gmail is fine: bwyman19@gmail. I've got you know, a school email address and Facebook LinkedIn. Actually, LinkedIn is a good place. Just, you know, just search my name and you can find me there as well. And I'm more than happy to share with whoever because it's fun to get other people excited about it.

Naomi Meredith  30:08

Well, thank you so much. And I feel like everyone's gonna feel so much better about 3D printing after listening to this and just be excited for that next journey in their STEM classroom. So thank you so much again for your knowledge.

Bruce Wyman  30:23

For sure. Thank you for being an influencer and a STEM promoter.

Naomi Meredith  30:26

Ah, of course, I try. Thank you again.

Bruce Wyman  30:31

My pleasure. Take care.