3Doodler Bridges Gender Gap in STEM

“The lessons girls learn in our classroom will develop them into critical thinkers, innovators, risk-takers, collaborators, and leaders.” — Julie Dweck, K-5 Educator.

A recent Microsoft study indicated that a girl’s level of interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) rises steadily until age 11, and then declines, most markedly by age 15. I refer to these as the “wonder” years, because I wonder why more people haven’t noticed it or done something about it!

Girl's interest in STEM diagram by Ellen Gallagher - 3D pen art

One of the best tools in my teaching arsenal is the 3Doodler Start. I’d like to “draw” upon my own success with the 3Doodler and share why it’s an important tool for all of your students, but especially your young girls. The 3Doodler is a way to inspire and engage our girls in STEM at an early age, while cultivating a platform that will sustain their interest throughout higher education and life. Learning with a 3Doodler nurtures creative thinking, as students design original works or repurpose information and ideas into new creations. It is an artistic form of expression that appeals to girls, while developing their voice not only within the design community, but in our world at large. Being a flexible, fluent thinker is a valuable commodity in any field or endeavor they may pursue.

Through using 3Doodler pens in the classroom, students practice “design thinking,” a process of iteration that entails asking questions, brainstorming, planning, testing and retesting. This logical thought process is effective and visually concrete with 3Doodler pens. A larger design problem is broken down into smaller, more manageable sub-problems.

3D pen creates intricate 3D drawing

In our classroom, you will see girls designing plans, sketching models, drawing flowcharts, building, and playing with ideas not only in their minds, but with their hands. They make predictions. They make inferences. They make repairs. They cultivate strong visual-spatial abilities because their thought processes are being enacted right before their eyes. And all of this happens as they are “playing.” As girls enter adolescence with its rapid changes and choices, the dramatic effects of a strong thought process are witnessed by an improved ability to make important decisions, ones that may alter life outcomes.

With 3Doodler pens, girls get practice in solving problems, making mathematic calculations and taking risks within open-ended challenges that allow for more than one solution. They cultivate a tolerance for ambiguity and build perseverance. They develop what my grandfather used to refer to as “true grit,” a kind of spunk and resilient nature best cultivated through experience with failure. Psychologist, Carol Dweck, coined the term “growth-mindset” as the ability to reframe failure as an opportunity for learning. With the constant barrage of perfection displayed by the media, our girls are in danger of becoming complacent rather than risk making mistakes. 3Doodler pens draw new pathways that embolden girls to dare, to try again, to go out on a ledge, knowing that the only true risk they face are the lessons lost by quitting.

Artful creation, such as with 3Doodler pens, does not demand perfection. It celebrates inspiration born through determination. It makes us smile, even as we’re trying again and again.

Beautiful 3D pen art: Person with a mouse.

And somewhere along the line, they begin to realize that they can solve most of life’s problems if they can see the “shapes” and “patterns” within it, which take the form of problems, ideas and choices. 3Doodler pens nurture the ability to problem-solve through analyzing, synthesizing and transferring knowledge to abstract learning. 3Doodler pens are a valuable tool for all students, but for our girls, it is the shape of things to come.

See our archive of FREE k-12 Lessons on our site!

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Julia Dweck is a public school teacher who works with students in grades K-5, focusing on the importance of creative and open-ended thinking. Julia is the 2016 winner of the Da Vinci Science Award for her innovative integration of technology in the classroom.

She serves as a school resource and exemplar for inventive implementation of the arts and sciences. Julia encourages her students, friends, and peers to take risks, whenever possible, in order to grow. Follow her on Twitter @GiftedTawk

Hack Life with Everyday 3Doodler Projects

With a 3D pen, you can create anything you can think of at home or in a classroom. Why not craft Doodles and create some genius solutions along the way?

Whether you’d like to organize your cables, create decorative storage for your jewelry, or keep those pesky flies off of your snacks, our collection of popular, practical stencils will help you hack everyday life with a touch of creativity. Take a look at a round up of innovative 3D pen ideas for the 3Doodler Start and 3Doodler Create+!

Practical 3D Pen Projects to Hack Life


3D pen art: Dog with baseball bat on its back

Puppy Earphones Wrap

For 3Doodler Start and 3Doodler Create+

Organize your earbud cables with your very own handmade puppy headphones holder. Use our stencil and never get those cables in a twist again!

3D pen art showcases a tree with various jewelry hanging.

Joy for Jewelry Trees

For 3Doodler Start and 3Doodler Create+

It’s easy to lose jewelry pieces without a place to store them. This jewelry tree project allows you to display your jewelry and keep everything organized. Follow our stencil to make this perfectly practical project!

Colorful 3D pens and pen cup on desk

Delightful Desk Organizer

For 3Doodler Start and 3Doodler Create+

Time to declutter that desk! This pragmatic desk organizer stencil is here to help. Pick your favorite colors of 3D pen plastics, turn that 3D printing pen on, and start Doodling your way to orderliness!

3D pen art: Fruit on table with cord

Coolest Cord Holder

For 3Doodler Create+

Use our practical cord holder stencil and some FLEXY 3D pen plastic refills to organize your cables in style.

3Doodler craft: Cake on plate with plastic cover.

Shoo-Fly-Fabulous Food Cover

For 3Doodler Create+

This adorable food cover will help those pesky flies bugger off! Use the best 3D pen and our easy-to-follow stencil to bring it to life, then take it on your next picnic.

3D pen art: Wineholder with wrapped string around bottle.

Whimsical Bottle Holder

For 3Doodler Create+

Next time you need to BYOB, bring your favorite glass bottle in a DIY FLEXY bottle holder, which you can make from our groovy stencil. Guaranteed to wow fellow beverage fans – they’ll be whining for their own!

We want to see your life hack Doodles. Please share your hack-tastic creations with us on social media!

@3Doodler #3Doodler #3DoodlerEDU #LifeHacks#WhatWillYouCreate

Extend Learning With Free Resources

We know how valuable ready-to-go learning activities are. That’s why we have so many available for free, just for you.

We’re here to help by sharing free classroom resources, which include lessons written by teachers for teachers, webinars, tutorials, hundreds of stencils, and more. We’ve got just what you need to plan your curriculum and enhance learning with 3D printing pens throughout the entire school year. We’ve put together a list of our resources to help you set up your learning environment for success for many years to come!

3Doodler’s Free Learning Resources


Colorful 3D pen art on blue background

K-12 Lesson Plans Bring Learning to Life

Our lessons are made by teachers and include step-by-step instructions, vocabulary words and activities, and they also include educational standards such as Common Core, NGST, CSTA, and ISTE. Get ready for your students to be engaged in project based learning and having fun exploring concepts in STEM.

Browse Lesson Plans

Various 3D pen art on table

STEM Stencils

We have over 300 stencils available for free on our website. From cranking V-8 engines and hydraulic claws to the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge, our versatile stencil library will bring hands-on learning projects to a variety of subjects in your curriculum.

Browse Stencils

Person 3D doodling on computer screen.

Webinars and Tutorials for Whizz Kids

We have an archive of educational webinars and tutorials that link with lesson plans and projects! From language arts activities that bring characters to life to diving into chemistry and creating 3D atoms, our webinars are great ways to enhance learning in your classroom.

Webinars / Video Tutorials / Web Tutorials

Phone with 3D pen & app introducing 3Doodler

There’s an App for that!

With tutorials, stencils, webinars and more, the free 3Doodler App has tons of educational projects that can be Doodled directly off of a tablet screen safely with the 3Doodler Start! If using the Create+, just be sure to place a Create DoodlePad on top of the tablet before Doodling.

Get the Free 3Doodler App

Be sure to follow us on social media for weekly teacher tips, classroom inspiration, teacher spotlights, giveaways and more! We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Linkedin. Follow us so you don’t miss out on the fun!

We want to see how you use 3Doodler EDU in your learning environment! Share your 3D classroom projects with us on social media, and be sure to tag us so we can share what you’re doing with our community.

@3Doodler #3Doodler #3DoodlerEDU #WhatWillYouCreate

Wearable Fashion with Stéphanie Santos

“The 3D pen is a perfect tool for artists wanting to explore unconventional and new techniques for their work and designs.” -Stéphanie Santos

 

  • wearable 3d pen art fashion by Stéphanie Santos
  • wearable 3d pen art fashion by Stéphanie Santos
  • wearable 3d pen art fashion by Stéphanie Santos
  • wearable 3d pen art fashion by Stéphanie Santos

Stéphanie Santos is a European fashion designer who uses 3Doodler pens to create clothing and jewelry inspired by nature. Using her background in art, fashion, and biofabrication, she has created a visionary collection of clothing and jewelry with the 3Doodler Start and Create+ pens. The series was inspired by her passion for sustainability. All of the 3Doodler filaments are either compostable or recyclable, which makes them perfect materials for her work.

We had a chance to speak with her about her creative process and the inspiration behind this series. She also created a beautiful stencil that can be used with your 3Doodler Create+ pen so you can design your very own piece of her collection!

3Doodler: Stéphanie, could you tell us about yourself, your background in fashion design, and an overview of this wearable collection you’ve made with 3D pens?

I was born in Luxembourg to Portuguese parents, and graduated with a variety of art and design disciplines. I studied Art and Graphic Design in my hometown, and went to Northern France to specialize in Fashion Design and Haute Couture techniques at ESMOD Roubaix. For my final exam, I created a collection called “HYBRID.” where I designed and created garments made entirely with the 3Doodler pen.

  • wearable 3doodler 3d pen art fashion by Stéphanie Santos
  • wearable 3doodler 3d pen art fashion by Stéphanie Santos
  • wearable 3doodler 3d pen art fashion by Stéphanie Santos

I did my internship at Iris van Herpen Atelier in Amsterdam, where I later specialized in an interdisciplinary course of Computational Design, Biofabrication, and Digital Fabrication in Textile and Fashion at Fabricademy. For my final project there called “FUNGI COUTURE”, I researched biofabrication methods to decode the aesthetics and properties of mushrooms, and how to translate them into garments.

Next, I would like to combine my knowledge of tech, fashion, and sustainability to continue creating elegant clothing pieces that can be a part of everyday attire.

I love using 3D pen technology and want to continue integrating it into my work. I’m currently researching some small accessory designs I plan to create with the 3Doodler pens that should look contemporary, chic and organic in design, with minimalistic aesthetics.

What is your inspiration for this collection of wearables? Can you speak on the aesthetics of the collection and what they represent to you?

For this project I continued my research in designing with straight lines and curves. I took inspiration from waves and corals. For the Create+ designs it’s a game of rhythm and lines. For the Start pen designs the texture and 3D effect are quite interesting. The straight lines, curves, and unique textures are seen a lot in my designs and can be found anywhere you look. All these elements together create harmony and reflect the beautiful aesthetics of nature, in my opinion.

  • wearable 3doodler 3d pen art necklace by Stéphanie Santos
  • wearable 3doodler 3d pen art necklace by Stéphanie Santos
  • wearable 3doodler 3d pen art dress by Stéphanie Santos

Can you explain some of the benefits of working with 3D pens as a medium for wearables, as opposed to textiles?

Working with a 3D pen offers so many more possibilities that haven’t been explored yet. Making drawings come to life and creating unique textiles with the 3D pen is amazing. The 3D pen is a perfect tool for artists wanting to explore unconventional and new techniques for their work and designs.

Can you describe your process with making this collection, and the differences between working with the Create+ and the Start?

The process differs depending on the model of pen. The Start pen was very new to me. With the Start pen, in order to create my desired shape, I had to Doodle something that would stay three dimensional and solid, as the material is non-flexible and hardens quickly. For the necklaces made with the Start pen, I Doodled on a mannequin’s neck to design the 3D base shape. That way, it took on the shape of a female human neck. Once I had the base of the shape created, I continued free-hand to fill out the design.

As for the pieces I did with the Create+ I started by drawing digitally on a female body in Photoshop to plan the design. Afterwards I created the printable files on illustrator once I had designed them on a 3D body in Rhino3D to make a template. I then printed out the template and brought it to life with the 3Doodler pen.

Can you speak about the tutorial you have made for our readers?

The video tutorial below shows how I worked with the Create+ pen. I created a design inspired by ocean waves to be  worn around the wrist. The design is minimalistic and not hard to make. I designed it with a built-in clasp so there is no need for jewelry closures.

The steps are as follows:

          1. Print out this stencil.
          2. Start by outlining the design with a back and forth movement that takes on the width of the outer edge.
          3. Once the outlining is done you can Doodle the inner part with a similar back and forth movement, but with the lines farther apart to create parallels.
          4. You can finish by Doodling the two ‘hooks’ to close the piece.

        Are you inspired by Stéphanie’s 3D pen fashion? Share your thoughts with us on social media, give Stéphanie a follow, and be sure to post pictures of your 3D creations and tag us! @3Doodler #3Doodler #Fashion #WhatWillYouCreate?

        Are you looking for 3D pen ideas? Perhaps you’re trying to find the best 3D pen for you? Check out our library of free projects to start creating, and be sure to view our collection of 3D pens and 3D pen plastics.

Close-up: 3D pen art cake with sticks design

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