Please help the students of the Charleston Charter School of Math & Science, located in downtown Charleston, SC, purchase a 3-D Laser Cutter & Printer to create a future of learning, creating, making and innovation!
“Put a young man [or woman] in a workshop; his hands will work to the benefit of his brain and he will become a philosopher while thinking himself only a craftsman.” - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Do you remember a hands on project that you built as a young student? Was it a dragster race car that earned first place? Did you mix paper mache to construct stunning sculptures in art class? Maybe, as an older student, you were one of the lucky ones who got to take wood shop, learning amazing skills that were reflected in the quality and finish of your projects.
Now.... imagine what you could create given the technology available today!
Students have a strong desire to design and create. By providing hands on opportunities to bring their creations to life, students are better able to connect and learn from the concrete exploration of their ideas. Hands on exploration and creation will provide students personal reward and satisfaction as they learn and apply a number of skills including measurement and calculations, problem solving, collaboration and critical thinking.
This project aims to create a student centered maker space/workshop that would allow students to explore, discover, and tinker as they design, create and innovate. As we build our program, this space will not only serve all of the students of the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science, but will allow our students to become teachers themselves as we welcome neighboring schools to learn and experience the many creative opportunities afforded by a space dedicated to collaboration and exploration.
The first stage of our fundraising efforts is aimed towards the purchase a 3-D Laser Cutter and Engraver. This amazing piece of equipment will become the catalyst for establishing a multi-faceted student maker space. The Engineering, Business and Art departments, through a collaborative effort, are working to create an entrepreneurial program for our students. Students will be able to use this equipment to design and fabricate their own goods for sale as they work to create a business and marketing plan. A portion of the profits will then be reinvested in the student maker space to allow for the purchase of additional equipment and to perpetuate and support the program.
This equipment would prove valuable in any classroom in our school. A 3-D laser cutter would allow for the creation of cardboard prototypes, acrylic enclosures for electronic projects, custom parts for student created robotics and mechanical systems. It would allow for the design and construction of complex models- imagine studying the anatomy of the human heart, then laser cutting components that could be pieced together to help students better understand the circulatory system.
"With the technology offered today, Art in the classroom no longer has to be limited to one-dimensional pieces. With a laser printer, the possibilities would be endless; our projects would take on a more sophisticated edge, and Art would have a much longer lasting impression on scholars. - Janet Smith, Art Teacher, Charleston Charter School for Math & Science
Please consider donating to this project and helping the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science purchase a 3-D Laser Cutter and Etcher. Your donation will be an investment in our student centered makerspace and entrepreneurial program that will allow for the further development of a student centered makerspace, and most importantly, the development of our students and future innovators.
