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Effects of 3D Printing Project-based Learning on Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Science Attitudes, Science Content Knowledge, and Anxiety About Teaching Science

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Abstract

3D printing technology is a powerful educational tool that can promote integrative STEM education by connecting engineering, technology, and applications of science concepts. Yet, research on the integration of 3D printing technology in formal educational contexts is extremely limited. This study engaged preservice elementary teachers (N = 42) in a 3D Printing Science Project that modeled a science experiment in the elementary classroom on why things float or sink using 3D printed boats. The goal was to explore how collaborative 3D printing inquiry-based learning experiences affected preservice teachers’ science teaching self-efficacy beliefs, anxiety toward teaching science, interest in science, perceived competence in K-3 technology and engineering science standards, and science content knowledge. The 3D printing project intervention significantly decreased participants’ science teaching anxiety and improved their science teaching efficacy, science interest, and perceived competence in K-3 technological and engineering design science standards. Moreover, an analysis of students’ project reflections and boat designs provided an insight into their collaborative 3D modeling design experiences. The study makes a contribution to the scarce body of knowledge on how teacher preparation programs can utilize 3D printing technology as a means of preparing prospective teachers to implement the recently adopted engineering and technology standards in K-12 science education.

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  1. School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences, Kent State University, 150 Terrace Drive, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH, 44242-0001, USA

    Elena Novak & Sonya Wisdom

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  1. Elena Novak
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  2. Sonya Wisdom
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Correspondence to Elena Novak.

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Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Appendix. 3D printing science project description

Appendix. 3D printing science project description

How Much Cargo Can Your Boat Carry? (adapted from Olson, A. & Rowland, T., Science Buddies Staff. (2014, October 22). How Much Weight Can Your Boat Float?. Retrieved August 5, 2016 from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Aero_p020.shtml)

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Novak, E., Wisdom, S. Effects of 3D Printing Project-based Learning on Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Science Attitudes, Science Content Knowledge, and Anxiety About Teaching Science. J Sci Educ Technol 27, 412–432 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-018-9733-5

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