MUSCAT: The Ministry of Education has completed the first phase of the 3D printer distribution project, targeting 339 10th-grade schools across various educational directorates in the governorates.
The project was implemented with the participation of the Directorate-General of Curriculum Development, the Directorate-General of Educational Supervision, the Directorate-General of Projects and Services, and the Information Technology Project Management Office, with support from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Al Suwadi Power Company, SMN Power Holding Company and Oman Arab Bank (OAB).
The project provides 3D printers to 640 public schools, including the 10th grade schools implementing 3D modelling units for the IT curriculum. One to two printers are available for each school depending on students’ number density and the number of computer labs in the school. Printing materials will also be provided, allowing students to use these printers to print various models during the IT course. The first phase was implemented over the past three months of this year. It included receiving 3D printers from the supplier and distributing them to the select schools. Besides, the project provides training of IT supervisors, teachers and school and office equipment support technicians on the installation, operation and use of 3D printers.
The project aims to introduce students to 3D printing technology and its importance to the local and global economy being one of the key future technologies. It also aims to instil values and principles, develop the skills necessary for entrepreneurship, integrate IT with other academic subjects and implement student projects. It also highlights the importance of providing the modern technologies needed to implement global IT courses, a priority and concern of the Ministry of Education.
Ibrahim bin Hamoud al Awaimri, an IT teacher at Abdullah bin Al Harith Basic Education School (grades 5-10) in the Wilayat of Wadi Al Maawil in Al Batinah South Governorate, pointed out that 3D printing technology is now part of the ongoing rapid digital development as it is closely linked to the concepts of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. We teach the students how 3D printers can be used in daily life such as printing educational tools, engineering models or even simple spare parts. — ONA
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