3D Printing in Creative Factory Contexts for English Language Learning

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02723
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: The University of Aizu
• Principal Investigator: Debopriyo Roy 会津大学, コンピュータ理工学部, 上級准教授 (30453020)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 安田 尚子 会津大学, コンピュータ理工学部, 准教授 (10461724) ; Ben.A Abderazek 会津大学, コンピュータ理工学部, 教授 (40468137) ; Brine John 会津大学, コンピュータ理工学部, 教授 (60247624)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: Design / 3D Printing / CLIL / Projects / Technical Writing

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Several conferences on 3D printing and English language teaching were organized and attended, and many articles were published in international journals and conference proceedings. The research focused on soft content language integrated learning-based curriculum where students not only designed products and made decisions for design in society, they also learnt how to write technical documents and communicate effectively using emails and reports. An important context of this course involved using several software and apps such as 3D scanning, and CAD, and 3D Printers, besides LEGO software. Students could both play around with the software and learn it, and also write about such tools and design decisions. An English course like this is rather unique and provides a wide ranging opportunity to learn community design, the economics of how 3D printing is used, and technical English. This project also enabled an international collaboration with a premier German university.

Free Research Field

Technical Communication