High-Tech Service Learning

This article was originally published in Montessori Life, Summer, 2024.

At Wellan Montessori School in Newton, MA, Upper Elementary Year 6 students are engaged in service learning projects with high-tech tools. Using their knowledge of design thinking, coding, and 3-D printing, they are responding to teachers’ needs for new and replacement classroom materials by fabricating useful 3-D objects.

“I used to grapple with guilt when discarding materials due to a missing or broken part,” said Wei Stanten, who teaches ages 3-6. “Now I can submit a request to our in-house team for a tiny pink cube replacement, knobs for a wooden puzzle, or special dice for an indoor recess activity. After some discussion and a period of time for the student to create the design, the item will be delivered to my classroom! I enjoy having a chance to interact with older students and come up with inventive materials to support my students’ learning.”

Mara Weitzman, Wellan’s Technology Integration Specialist, notes that students are highly motivated by these meaningful opportunities to solve design problems for real clients, especially since they can see the tangible impact on younger peers’ learning. “Too often students’ only experience with technology is as consumers. Our goal is to help them see that they can use digital tools to produce items of value for others. We also hope that, in a society marked by single-use, throw-away habits, working on ways to repair learning materials will cultivate a mindset focused on re-use and resourcefulness.”

Students go through a series of steps as part of the design process. First, they email the teacher who submitted a request and schedule an in-person meeting to discuss the problem or opportunity. After taking measurements using calipers and sketching a design, they used Tinkercad to draw a 3-D  model. The final product may be cut out of wood, acrylic, or another material on a laser printer or made using one of the school’s 3-D printers. Students use recycled PLA filament for prototypes, then select specific colors for final projects.

 “It was fun to meet with the teachers to understand what they wanted,” said Luke R., age 12. “I messed up some details in the trial and error phase, but the final result was a success. I loved seeing the little kids using what I made.” 

Students have created not only essential teaching materials like Hundred Board tiles and geography land form trays, but extension materials such as planets for the study of our solar system. Students have also crafted practical pieces such as library book display stands and a new handle for the school’s paper cutter.

Wellan’s commitment to service learning through technology also extends beyond school walls. Collaborating with Perkins School for the Blind, students created tactile puzzle pieces that young Perkins students use to practice pre-Braille skills. 

Beth Black, Wellan’s Head of School, has been supportive of the investment in technology resources that allow students to build tangible, useful objects. “Like the woodworking equipment and sewing machines in our Makerspace, new technology tools extend the hands-on learning central to Montessori philosophy in ways that are especially relevant for older students,” Black said. She also noted that not all of the service learning projects require expensive 3-D printers. Students have also used their knowledge of various software programs to serve others, such as creating “how-to” instructional videos and designing colorful logos for the school’s summer program.

When asked about how other schools could create a technology-based service-learning program, Weitzman suggested starting small. “Recruit a few interested students to tackle some design challenges together as an elective or after-school club.” She also invites colleagues at other Montessori schools to get in touch and collaborate with her in launching a “Tech for Good” movement. Intrigued? Visit wellan.org/techforgood to learn more.

Photos 1 & 2: Designing a replacement for division Racks and Tubes, and the tubes in use.

Photos 3 & 4: A Primary teacher requested a custom-made solar system model that would be safer for small children. Students designed and 3-D-printed spheres, stands, and name tags, then researched and hand-painted the planets. And the finished product!

*Copyright 2024 by the American Montessori Society. All rights reserved.