Our 3D product manager Simon Thomas attended the Bett Show 2018, and he gives the lowdown on what he saw in this blog post…
The Bett Show was back and bigger than ever in January 2018 and I was thrilled to be there at Excel London alongside over 70,000 visitors in attendance. With exhibitors ranging from the tech giants of Google, showcasing virtual reality, through to smaller independents promoting awesome robots and coding - there was something for every aspect of education.
King of Servers was in attendance with our partner, manufacturer XYZPrinting, for the duration of the week, and what a week it turned out to be! We valued the entire experience and treated it as a real learning curve, allowing us to gain a better understanding of the requirements, fears and gripes of educators when it comes to using technology - in particular 3D printing.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of our key takeaways from the event.
Understanding 3D printing
In speaking with teachers across a variety of subjects at the Bett Show, we were struck by the excitement and enthusiasm they displayed when it came to 3D printing. However, many expressed concerns at warning to use the technology, but not having the knowledge required to do so effectively.
This is the worst case scenario for us, as we want educators to be equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to make 3D printing an integral part of life in school for pupils across many age groups. However, it’s clear there is still a long way to go when it comes to giving teachers the level of expertise required to teach pupils to use 3D printing with confidence.
There was also some misunderstanding among educators when it came to the products that were most suited to their requirements, and the costs associated with them, so we were happy to offer advice and insights into this extensive product range.
Driving innovation in schools
Despite the initial reluctance to engage with the products from teachers, we were unsurprised that the pupils in attendance were ready to participate from the get go. We were thrilled to see the enthusiasm and immediate engagement in the technology - it was amazing to see first hand the excitement that 3D printing can bring to the learning experience.
The future of education
It’s important that any immediate concerns about the use of this new technology in education are overcome with proper training for teaching staff, allowing them to harness the power of 3D printing and enjoy the enthusiasm it brings out in pupils.
The technology offers many opportunities for education providers to enhance the learning experience for pupils, giving them the chance to become the inventors. 3D printing encourages creativity and innovation, while promoting a more hands-on learning environment.
As technology and education continue to blend even further, it’s vital that teachers can make the most of products that are easy to use. If they can implement them without fear or worry, they will support the technology fully, allowing pupils to enjoy the benefits.
The possibilities presented by the adoption of 3D printing are endless - and King of Servers is thrilled to stock a variety of solutions suited to a broad spectrum of users. In our recent blog post, we looked at the weird and wonderful applications of 3D printing, so if you’re looking for some inspiration on your next creation, take a look.