Project Description

Design & Manufacturing Insights for Kilmaron Pupils

As part of the DYW Special School Project in Fife the pupils at Kilmaron School have been exploring the Design & Manufacturing industry.

This project has been a success in part due to our successful partnership with Fife College who supported by loaning a 3D printer to the school to aid with the young people’s understanding of modern manufacturing. The lessons contained practical, hands-on activities, culminating in the production of a customised, 3D printed item which was a great introduction into how technology is changing industries and creating different careers.

The class have already completed a range of tasks from printing a heart shaped box to printing a personalised name stand for their desk. It has been a great educational tool to witness how a 2D idea on screen can be transformed into a real-life 3D print.

The pupils of Kilmaron also visited Fife Fabrications in Glenrothes and toured their premises which gave them an insight into the different jobs in precision metal work. They were shown a variety of different machines and gifted a personalised metal sign which had their name lasered by one of the machines.

Overall, this project has offered an insight into how lesson teachings can be applied in the world of work and given the class a great experience in working environments.

Class Teacher, Jennifer Harvey, shares her thoughts:

“It has been beneficial for learners to make connections between their design choices in their enterprise work, the use of the 3D printer from Fife College and the visit to Fife Fabrications. Learners have been designing jewellery for Mother’s Day gifts, making design choices over colour and shape and creating their pieces in resin. They have then become production sub-contractors for existing designs available online to create 3D printed items.

During our visit to FiFab, we learned that their role is as engineering sub-contractors to take designs from customers and bring them to life. This completed the circle for our learners and provided real life context to their experiences.”