3D Printing in Schools Research Project

Get involved: A Research Project for ALL Schools

We want ALL schools to take part in the research project whether you use 3D printing technologies or not! We want the broadest picture of 3D adoption that the UK has ever seen! We don’t mind if you use your 3D printer for everything or if you’d never even heard of a 3D printer before stumbling onto this page! We need you and your feedback!

Win Prizes for School by Taking Part

By taking part in the research project you could win one of these fantastic prizes.
An Ultimaker hardware gift card worth €1.500 or a 3D Printing workshop.
Filament packages worth up to €250 or a 3D printing teaching and learning aids set

More schools are recognising the value of 3D printing technologies in the development of students’ digital skills. These are critical skills for future careers and many schools are investing in 3D printing technology in order to give their students the head start they need in the competitive job market.

Although there are now lots of examples of good practice and anecdotal evidence of the impact that 3D technology is having, currently there is no empirical research data to assess the adoption and evidence the impact of 3D printing technologies in schools.

CREATE Education aims to change this with this UK wide research project!

Sponsored by UltiMaker 3D Printing made accessible for schools. Image of prizes

Why Take Part?

By taking part in the research project you could win one of these fantastic prizes.

  • 1 Ultimaker hardware gift card worth €1.500 (to be used on hardware only)
  • 1 x half day Secondary 3D printing workshop with a half term 3D printer loan.
  • 1 x half day Primary 3D printing workshop with a half term 3D printer loan.
  • 1 x package of filament worth €250
  • 1 x package of filament worth €100
  • 5 x 3D printing teaching and learning aids sets

We want to introduce a UK wide research project that you can be a part of!

It is, as far as we know, the first of its kind and we want you to help us pioneer this research in order to push the accessibility of this innovative technology of the future to more young people!

The research will be based around a school self-assessment 3D Excellence Framework and will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. So, get involved in this brilliant opportunity to shape young people’s futures and the future of an industry…!

Each school taking part will be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win from a range of 3D technology prizes!

Once you have completed the survey, you will receive an email containing a summary of your responses and your average school scores in each strand. 

You will also receive a copy of the research report in the Spring term and a free 30 minute follow up from one of our education experts.

As well as the national insight that this annual research could create – we are hoping this will enable opportunities for more potential government and industry investment, in turn allowing young people to gain access to this innovative technology and enhance career opportunities in industries of the future, you and your school will benefit. 

By taking part in the research you and your school will:

  1. Understand the strengths and areas for development in the adoption of 3D technologies.
  2. Have a framework to assist with Departmental and School Development Planning.
  3. Receive a copy of the research report.
  4. Be able to compare your school’s adoption and impact with other schools overall and in each development area.
  5. Have the opportunity to participate in the study annually so that you can track your adoption and impact year on year.
  6. We will offer you a free 30 minute consultation follow up with one of our education experts to go through your report and offer our insight and expertise to support the development of  your 3D printing journey.

And, if that’s not enough…you will also be entered into a prize draw to win a range of 3D technology prizes.

The Primary and Secondary Excellence Frameworks have been designed as a school self-assessment tool to facilitate the successful adoption and implementation of 3D printing technologies. 

The Excellence Framework supports a school in identifying where it currently sits in its 3D development journey and where it needs to go next. It is also intended to provide a research tool to gather nationwide data on the adoption and the impact of the technology in schools.

The frameworks consist of a series development strands covering the application of 3D technologies in school and key 3D competencies.

Each of these strands contain a series of scored levelled descriptors allowing individual schools to assess if they are a 3D Emerging, 3D Developing or 3D Confident School. This allows schools to comprehensively review their application of the technology through the school and the knowledge and skills of their staff. 

The Excellence Framework will highlight areas for development and help schools to understand what they need to do to progress towards excellence in 3D printing technologies and maximise the impact of their investment in the technology.

Simply click on the blue Primary or Secondary survey buttons below, then complete the online form – it should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. It’s as easy as that! The questions should be answered from a “best fit” and only one survey should be completed per school. 

You could download the Excellence Framework to review the statements with your colleagues prior to completing the survey, this will also give you a hard copy of your responses too to reflect on.

Take Part Now