Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

Tinkercad

Teresa Lansford, Brittany Bowens, Dewey Hulsey | Published: March 2nd, 2022 by K20 Center

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Tinkercad

Tinkercad is a free online platform for creating 3D models. Students can design unique creations by combining and manipulating shapes or load ready-made designs for remixing. Teachers can set up a free account and create a class or students can create individual accounts. Tinkercad has built-in tutorials so that anyone can design their own 3D prints.

Tinkercad

Summary

With Tinkercad, students can create 3D models by dragging and dropping shapes onto a grid and then combining and modifying them to design new creations. Teachers can set up an account and build a class to see student progress and have access to their designs.

Tinkercad has a built-in tutorial that walks students through how to manipulate shapes and construct their designs in the platform. Finished designs can be exported and printed on a 3D printer.

Procedure

  1. Visit https://www.tinkercad.com/

  2. Select "Join Now." Then select "Educators start here."

  3. Follow the onscreen directions to set up a class.

  4. Share the class code with students. Have them visit the site and enter their join code.

  5. Give students time to work through the tutorials. You can also use K20's Tinkercad Scavenger Hunt handout to track progress.

  6. As students complete projects, their work can be exported for 3D printing. See your 3D printer manufacturer details for the file types needed for printing to your machine.

Autodesk.(2022). Tinkercad. https://www.tinkercad.com/