Education

Linkdump

Everything that follows this point is fair game to get a complete wiki write up by the library gnomes:

"FUNdaMENTALS" of Design MIT prof Alex Slocum http://web.mit.edu/2.75/resources/FUNdaMENTALS.html

Highly recommended reading for mechanical designers.

Working Notes, Please Log in and Edit. Thank you.

That's all theory down there.

Site Requirements

Site requirements are minimal. A computer lab is quite suitable.

Fabrication Requirements

Setting aside the various types of RepStraps, a RepRap will require soldering of electrical components and cutting up of lengths of 8 MM steel rod. (Along with printing the parts of the RepRap.)

Assembly can take place in a class room.

Pedagogical Goals

RepRap is a highly interdisciplinary project that offers educational opportunities in many disciplines including Computer Science and Engineering. One can learn by using a RepRap, building a RepRap, and by contributing to the RepRap project.

By using a RepRap, students will:
- Understand the theory and operation of cartesian robots
- Understand the theory and operation of plastic extruders
- Understand the theory and operation of 3D design software
- Gain insight into several fields of engineering
- Explore their creativity

By building a RepRap, students will:
- Understand the theory and construction of simple mechanics
- Understand the theory and construction of simple computer chips
- Acquire problem solving skills for a wide variety of situations

By contributing to the RepRap project, students will:
- Gain field experience in any of several fields of engineering
- Gain insight into alternative economic models
- Earn respect from a welcoming community of peers

Integration with other Programs

Information about science clubs, robot clubs, and computer clubs building RepRaps.

Also, how will RepRap integrate with technology-based learning programs like FIRST Robotics Competition and so on.

mentors

If a high-school student or college student or a teacher wants more information before getting started, or gets stuck on some difficult-to-debug problem, how do I hook up with an experienced reprapper to share the knowledge?

Currently it is extremely informal -- see RepRapWiki:Community portal. Is there a better system for matching mentors up with students and teachers?

getting all the parts

What is the next step towards developing a curriculum? How do we request a grant of public funding to develop a curriculum or buy parts or both? What are polite ways of asking people who already have a RepRap to donate printed parts to these students?

Forum Thread

Unorganized discussion of this topic is going on here: forums.reprap.org
This information should be gradually incorporated into the wiki as ideas solidify.

The OIT RepRap Project mentions that a RepRap can be "Used to Learn Multi-Disciplinary Engineering Skills".