Projects

Makerspace Assignments by Subject
Here’s a list of makerspace projects by subject. The Roadrunner Makerspace is open to College of the Desert students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines and departments. Since the opening of the space, it has been used by students from a wide range of courses. Have an idea? Contact us!

 

Anthropology

Semiotics: 3D Print an object and analyze it from a semiotic perspective using theories and concepts introduced in the class. Discuss the metonymic associations it generates. See one group’s example on Twitter. Also, create an escape room and discuss the signs associated with clues. 

Others: Bone fracture models, replicas of homo naledi bones, models from MRI scans, reproductions of cultural artifacts

 

Art History

Thing Theory: Studying what makes a thing art or not art - create something to demonstrate this concept. 

Others: Create replicas of sculptures from Scan the World - "Scan the World is building an ecosystem of 3D printable artefacts, enabling a global community to share stories of their heritage and contribute their own artefacts.

We are an initiative part of MyMiniFactory, creating a MetaReverse with the community to scan 3D printable scans of cultural significance."

 

Biology

Human Physiology: Idea: 3D print of human anatomy that is not usually visible -- like this example of a human inner ear model.

Botany & ecology: Designing replicas of flower buds to trick invasive insects.

Chemistry

Biochemistry: Use of 3D printed proteins and viruses, including hemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin models, to learn about their structures, many created by Professor Dave Hall. 

Instrumental Analysis: Class printed the SpecPhone, a 3D printed spectrometer (design created by Professor Adam W. Smith of the University of Akron), created or modified 3D patterns and printed them on the 3D printers, and will design their own instruments and instrument housing.

Replicate a project using 3D printing from the Journal of Chemical Education, or a chemistry-related object from NIH 3D print exchange, or a general repository such as Thingiverse.

Virology: 3D print an anatomical model of a bee to demonstrate wing defects caused by a virus.

Computer Science

Ideas: EEG headset to measure brainwaves, featured on the Lawrence Minute .  

 

Geology

Ideas: Fossil replicas, scans of geodes, topographical maps

 

History

Cross-Cultural Interactions Along the Silk Road: Printed examples of astrolabes for the unit on navigation.

 

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Innovation: Create an innovative object that has use in your life. One example is this Band Aid dispenser, designed in Tinkercad.

 
Jewelry Design

Ideas: Design earrings or pendants in llustrater to be laser-cut and/or engraved. 

 

Marketing

Ideas: Design and print marketing materials: Business cards, stickers, banners, posters, etc.

 

Music Pedagogy / Conservatory

Cello studio: Custom cello bow hand support made with FlexPLA and designed in Tinkercad. 

Ideas: Saxophone mouthpiece, custom violin chin rest

Instruments: 3D print an instruments that you can play

 

Music Theory

Ideas: 3D models of sound waves

 

Plant Science

Ideas: Print a unique flower pot, propogation station, or automatic watering bulb.

 

Religious Studies

Islam: Models of Minarets and other religious structures

 

STEM Projects

Ideas: Check out these 10 ideas for STEM projects: 10 STEM designs for your 3d printer

 

Studio Art

Junior Studio Art Practicum: Student exhibit involved 3d modeling and 3d printing as a way of showing off the models in real space and making a comment on how people interact with technology. The objects were also combined with computer interactivity. 

New Media in Art: The Divine Irreference of Images by Professor Shimon

New Media in Art: Student made word art on the Silhouette Cameo and designed and printed letters on the 3D printers. Her art was then placed around campus. She documented the art on her Tumblr page, LU Word Art.

Painting: Student used the electronic cutter to create a stencil for his spray paint art project.

Photography: For the course gallery exhibit, the students created the exhibit sign with the electronic cutter.

Senior Studio Art Exhibit: Noah Gunther’s installation, Mystery Ocean, integrated 3D printed models along with a 3D environment he created that could be viewed with a VR headset.

 

Other information and Makerspace uses:

Tutorial in 3D Printing: Students designed and printed objects and made pages on this website.

Other uses: Creating objects and signs for gallery exhibits, street art, stencils, analyzing replicas, student club stickers and buttons. Come by and talk with the Makerspace instructor if you aren't sure what you want to do, we're always happy to help!

More aproject ideas will be added as they come in!