Through K-12 student workshops in 3D-printing technology
at the
Michigan State St. Andrews 3D-printing lab, a collaborative STEAM
outreach project was initiated with the Committee on Chemists with
Disabilities of the American Chemical Society to design and build
an accessible Periodic Table of the Elements to celebrate the 2019
International Year of the Periodic Table. This project supported the
education of students in 3D-printing technology and promoted their
interests in learning about science while bringing awareness to the
obstacles faced by individuals with disabilities. The project lessons,
which included tile designs using CAD software, conformed to both
the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards
by defining problems, developing models, carrying out investigations,
and designing solutions. Students acquired basic skills in 3D modeling
and broad general knowledge of the Periodic Table. In Fall 2019, this
Periodic Table, which included ASL hand-signing and Braille on each
element tile, was displayed at the National American Chemical Society
Meeting in San Diego.
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