This summer, I had the opportunity to organize and teach a 5-day 3D Printing & CAD Modeling summer camp for middle school students. The camp aimed to introduce beginners to the basics of 3D design, modeling tools like TinkerCAD and Fusion 360, and how to operate FDM 3D printers.
I spent several weeks preparing a curriculum that covered the fundamentals while keeping the sessions interactive. Each day had a clear theme ā from learning CAD basics to slicing and printing custom keychains, nameplates, and even simple mechanical parts.
Teaching students with no prior experience was both challenging and rewarding. I broke down complex terms into digestible pieces and used lots of hands-on examples. Watching students go from dragging basic shapes to designing moving parts was amazing!
Planning the logistics, preparing slides, running the 3D printers, and troubleshooting during live demos taught me a lot about communication, patience, and classroom management. The experience strengthened my skills in leadership and technical instruction.
Overall, the camp was a success. Iām proud of the impact I made, and I hope to run similar camps again in the future ā maybe even expand to electronics or robotics!