Blending Innovation, Student Co-Learning, Entrepreneurship and Informal Education – Innovation 5

Abstract: This ocnference paper is authored by Thomas L Deits, Michigan State University and Katherine LaCommare, Lansing Community College and the paper is part of the 2013 ASQ Advancing the STEM Agenda Conference proceedings.

We are engaged with Michigan's Impression 5 Science Center in a student co-learning project to systematically investigate how the new technologies of additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping can be adapted to the informal education environment. We will describe our progress in creating a sustainable plan to integrate these new technologies into a hands-on science museum in order to stimulate interest in STEM among young people, engage students in entrepreneurship and innovation and provide an accessible community resource for everyone from tinkerers to micro-entrepreneurs.

Keywords: STEM - Conference Proceedings - 21st Century Skills - Hands-on Learning