Object lessons: 3D printing and inter-professional collaboration between the library and the literature classroom

Abstract

While the digital revolution has been readily embraced by the hard sciences, adoption by the humanities has been somewhat more delayed. A number of factors have prevented wide scale inclusion of technology into humanities coursework including, but not limited to, a lack of training, resources or support for professional development. The new Makerspace at the Drake Memorial Library provided the chance to unite 3D printing technology, pedagogy, literary criticism, information literacy, and historical context into a children's literature course at the College at Brockport. Students were charged to locate a single object from a work of children's literature and to analyze its importance to the plot of the novel or the development of a character. Selected objects were then 3D printed by the library Makerspace. Students then met with a librarian to reinforce threshold concepts set forth by ACRL's Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education through a unique gamified Harry Potter-themed lesson. Students were able to successfully synthesize the relationship between object and text, culminating in the display of their objects in the library along with their written assignments. 14 Journal of New Librarianship, 1 (2017) pp.14-38Since the foundational work of Murray's (1998) It was during the committee's presentation that council chair, Dr. Norcia, was first taken with the idea of incorporating 3D printing into an English class, and to explore the unique application of this technology to the humanities. The first semester the project was executed, the model followed was very close to the dreaded "service-and-support." Our library's Makerspace featured 3D printers and the chance to unite technology, pedagogy, literary criticism, and historical context in a meaningful way.Rather than becoming one of the humanities scholars described by Nelson (2016) who do their research in relative isolation, Dr. Norcia reached out to librarians and technology professionals to develop an extended assignment incorporating library research and the 3D printer. The result was a learning experience that enabled students to contextualize objects historically and to display their intellectual labors for the wider campus community.The adventurous spirit of this enterprise was mirrored by the quest, fantasy, and teamwork elements of the children's literature course, which revolved around the theme of "Magical Journeys"into parallel, magical worlds: Wonderland, Oz, and even Hogwarts. Many of the characters learn to fly-2 High-impact practices "include such things as first-year seminars, service-learning, writing-intensive courses, learning communities, undergraduate research, and capstone experiences […] An array of evidence points to the value and utility of HIPs in providing an improved learning experience for all students. In fact, HIPs can provide students exactly the kinds of active and engaged learning experiences that help them develop the skills and knowledge essential for success in work, life, and citizenship" (McNair...