TWIS个人设计项目｜运用3D技术打印商品，科技化我的想象力

When I started thinking of possible personal project topics, I knew that it had to do with creating something from scratch. When I was younger, I had always been interested in creating things out of cardboard and PLA plastic. I would spend time creating helmets, pinball machines and other gadgets or contraptions. For example, I created a Spartan helmet for my PYP presentation on ancient civilizations. I also created a Halo helmet for a Halloween parade. I have recently taken up the hobby of building plastic model kits, which introduced me to another world of kits and displays. I have built over 10 Gundam models so far, and I am currently sharing my passion with other students by co-leading the Gundam Club every Monday as an after-school activity. In Design class last year, we learned how 3D printing worked and the different ways that it can be used to help create and make things in our imaginations exist in real life, as well as how it improved our world. From building models by hand, my interest extended to creating something using technology.

I have been at TWIS since school started in 2019.  When the uniform was created, our principal asked for my opinion on them. From time to time, our principal would ask for my suggestions on items the school could give away to guests and resource speakers. This made me realize that, unlike the other international schools I had already attended, there were still so many things that could be made as souvenirs, gifts, or tokens of appreciation for the school.

"I also thought my passion for creating and constructing small models could be further explored by embarking on this year-long project creating new items that cater to my interest, and at the same time be beneficial to the school."

My interest in creating something new and my interest in doing a service for my school are clearly connected to my goal of making and selling a promotional item using 3D Software and 3D printing technology. The item I would be creating was a fridge magnet and keychain based on original designs that would include the name of the school with the additional option of personalizing it.

The global context that fits my project is Scientific and Technical Innovation because it involves creating and designing school merchandise. I also chose it because I think it would help the school by giving them the data on my products.

当我开始思索个人设计项目的主题时，我就意识到我应当去从事与创造有关的原创项目。自小，我就热衷于利用纸板和PLA全降解塑料发明物件，如改造头盔、弹球器和其他小物件或装置。在就读PYP小学项目期间，我曾为一场关于古代文明的演讲制作了一个斯巴达头盔，还曾为一场万圣节盛会编织了带有光环的头饰。最近，我着迷于组装塑料模型套件，这为我打开了一扇套件和模型陈列的新世界大门。至今为止，我已组装了十多套高达模型，并开始尝试将这份热爱传达给更多的人——在每周一与授课教师共同领导高达模型俱乐部的课外课程。在九年级的设计课上，我学习了3D打印技术的运作模式，以及体会到3D打印机是如何将我们的想象变成三维化的实体，从而进一步改善我们所身处的世界。源于手工组装模型，我的兴趣延展到利用科学技术来创造物品。

自2019年建校以来，我就一直在TWIS就读。创校之初，校长会征求我们对于校服设计的建议，还时不时对校园纪念品进行调研。这让我意识到不同于曾经就读过的国际学校，TWIS还有许多待开发的校园周边产品，如纪念品、礼物和感谢信。

“ 受此启蒙，我发现我对建造模型的热爱可以延伸到校园周边商品的制作。我可以通过为期一年的个人设计项目来进一步挖掘3D打印技术与学校商品相结合的可能性，这不仅可以满足我的兴趣，还可以为我所身处的社区做贡献。”

因此，我确定了十年级个人设计项目的主题——利用3D建模软件和3D打印技术制作学校周边纪念品。目标是创造含有学校标志的原创冰箱磁铁和钥匙扣，并根据消费者的需求为其定制个性化的产品。

我的个人设计项目所契合的全球语境是科学和技术创新，这与我创造和设计学校商品的主题相适配。另外一个原因是，我认为这个框架能让我帮助学校收集意见，为学校提供重要的参考数据。

My learning goals in my personal project are multiple: After creating a design on paper I would need to learn how to use 3D modeling software to create a digital version of the design. This design would also need to include a place to insert the magnet and a hole for the keychain. Then I would need to learn how to transfer the files and operate the 3D printers. This means that I also need to learn about all the potential troubleshooting answers. Finally, I would have to learn about the selling portion of the product in terms of pricing and possibilities of sales.

I created 7 different phases in which each phase would help me understand what part I’m currently in. Then I listed down separate steps in each phase to follow including my own deadlines. I tried and followed these deadlines so that I would be able to manage my time wisely and I would not get stuck on one area for too long. 

In terms of the problems I encountered,  I spent most of the time trying to figure out problems with the 3D printers and software by myself. In addition to online resources and tutorials, I had also borrowed many books from the school library about 3D printing like the ‘3D Printing Techniques and Processes’ which helped a lot when first starting. I am grateful to my supervisor, Mr. Anar, who spent a lot of time making sure that the 3D printers were ready once I moved to the printing stage.

在个人设计项目中，我的学习目标是多层面的。首先，我需要学习如何使用3D建模软件来创建三维立体的数字化设计稿。冰箱磁铁和钥匙扣的产品增加了生产的难度，因为我需要另行设计可插入冰箱磁铁和钥匙扣的小孔。接着，我需要知道如何传输文件、转换文件格式和操作3D打印机，这也意味着我要提前了解所有潜在的故障，从而排除未来可能遇到的困难。除了3D打印技术学习外，我还需要自学市场营销推广和产品销售的方法，即定价商品和规划可行的销售方案。

为了让项目有序进行，我创建了7个项目准备的阶段，每个阶段都会帮助我了解我所身处的环节和工作步骤，并附上时间表。运用良好的时间规划能力来完成工作，才让我不至于在某个阶段里纠结过久。

在这过程中，我所遇到的问题大都与3D打印机和建模软件相关。为了解决这些问题，除了查找线上资源和教程外，我还从学校图书馆借阅了许多关于3D打印的书籍，如《3D打印技术与进程》。另外，我要特别感谢我的导师Mr. Anar，在产品打印阶段，他花了大量时间来协助我确认打印机的状态、研究模型和与之相关的一切。

Throughout the whole project, I have demonstrated many different ATL (Approaches To Learning) skills. I have written in detail in my process journal the ATL skills I demonstrated and improved on in every step of my personal project.

| Screenshot of Logan's Process Journal |

// Thinking Skills //

I think the ATL skill that I used the most was Thinking Skills because of the different software I used and the 3D printers I had operated, which all required a lot of problem-solving and applying of skills that I had learned. This ATL skill helped me achieve my goal by making me identify problems and help figure out different ways to solve them. 

// Research Skills //

During the project, I ran into many different problems, from using the software to the practical use of the 3D printer.  I had to research ways to fix these problems by using my information literacy skills. Before the practice, I conducted some online research and take inspiration from existing 3D examples and put them into my work. My initial research helped me set some parameters on how my 3D creations would be, what they would look like, and how they could serve a greater purpose aside from my learning how to operate and create using 3D machines.

| Design Draft |

// Self-management Skills //

In order to achieve my product, I had to improve my self-management skills. Printing each magnet required at least an hour so I had to calculate how many times I needed to go to the design room. At the same time, I had to finish my homework for other subjects. I set goals that are realistic and challenging. Whenever I procrastinated, I had to find a way to make up for the lost time. Although originally, I am not a super organized and motivated person, this project helped me to experience how to create my own deadlines and to work during my free time, like during the weekends when I usually don’t want to work a lot. 

// Communication Skills //

I also demonstrated good communication skills. I designed a persuasive poster on canva.org to promote my magnet sale. Then I had to prepare a short sales pitch during the MYP assembly to inform and entice the audience to support my magnet sale. During the selling of my products, I had to answer questions of potential buyers; and obtain the specifications they required for the customized orders.

在整个项目中，我所掌握的ATL（学习方法）技能帮助我顺利展开项目和解决了许多问题。我把这些ATL技能详尽地记录在每一份项目日记中，里面展示了我所运用的ATL技能和所提高的ATL技能。

| Logan的项目日记节选 |

// 思考能力 //

在众多ATL技能中，我最常使用的是思考能力。运用不同的建模软件和独立操作3D打印机，都需要大量的思考能力和问题解决能力。因此，至关重要的思考能力帮助我实现了这一学习目标，让我得以发现问题，并及时找出不同的方法来克服困难。

// 研究能力 //

从使用建模软件到3D打印机的操作，我遇到了很多不同的问题。因此，我的研究能力和信息素养技能在此派上了用场。在实践之前，我在网上进行了大量的研究，从现有的3D作品案例中摄取灵感，这帮助我在设计初期的机器设置上确认了一些参数和商品雏型。

| 商品设计图 |

// 自我管理能力 //

为了达到我的学习目标，我提高了自我管理能力。打印每块冰箱磁铁至少需要一个小时，因此我必须精准地计算出每次前往设计教室的时间和次数。由于我只能运用课余时间来完成这一项目，每当我拖延时，我就需要想办法把失去的时间弥补回来。我原本并不是一位具有严谨时间观念和自我管理能力的人，但这个项目帮助我体验到如何规划自己的时间，特别是我的空闲时间，比如周末。 

// 沟通能力 //

销售商品需要强大的沟通能力。在项目进行的过程中，我在Canva网站上设计了一张精美的海报来宣传我的产品。随后，我在MYP中学学习大会上准备了一个简短的产品推广环节，吸引更多的观众来购买我的产品。在销售产品时，我也必须使用沟通能力来回答消费者的疑问，并与他们进行详尽的沟通以确定个性化定制品的规格。

The personal project has impacted me in several ways. First, I learned the technical skill of 3D printing and how I can create things from the software and transfer them into plastic. 

"By learning this 3D modeling and printing skill, I have developed a deeper interest in using technology to create new, innovative items. It made me consider that design technology could be one of the IB options that I could take next year."

From selling products to delivering speeches in public, the personal project has also helped me become more confident when sharing my own creations, whereas I wouldn’t have had the confidence in showing off my work in presentations in front of other students before starting this project. During the MYP assembly and Personal Project presentation, I was proud and confident to invite the audience to have a look at my TWIS magnets and purchase them because I had gained a good level of expertise in 3D printing, and I had spent a lot of time producing good quality merchandise.

"I think this project has positively impacted me and my future learning because it is the first major project where I had to create my own scenario, success criteria and deadlines. I had to learn how to take ownership and responsibility, demonstrate persistence and perseverance, and practice 'bouncing back' when I was faced with challenges in producing my creations."

I have developed to be more balanced because I had to manage fitting this project into my everyday schedule as a student, as well as my leisure activities on weekends and holidays. This will help my future learning because now I know that I am capable of being responsible, thinking more realistically and working more independently, especially in solving challenges that come my way.

个人设计项目对我产生了多层面的影响。显而易见的是，我学会了3D打印技术，学会如何从设计软件中建模，并通过3D打印机的操作，将二维的设计图转换成立体的塑料模块。

“ 通过学习3D建模和3D打印，我对使用科技来制作创新物品产生了更为浓厚的兴趣。这一项目让我重新考虑了DP的科目选择，或许，在明年我会将设计工艺课程列为我要选修的IB课程之一。”

从产品销售到公开演讲，个人设计项目让我变得更为自信与从容地分享自己的作品。要知道，在此项目之前，我对在其他学生面前发表演讲和展示自己作品的活动会稍有胆怯。然而，在MYP学习大会和个人设计项目演讲中，得益于我所收获的专业3D打印技术知识，我开始自豪地邀请观众来观看并购买我的产品。这也鼓励我花时间去制作更多高质量的商品。

“无论是个人成长，还是未来方向，个人设计项目都对我产生积极的影响。这是我第一次自主从事重要项目，它鼓舞着我去建立自己的选题与方案、定义成功的标准和管理时间，因此，我必须拥有项目的主人翁意识和责任感，应当坚定，应当持之以恒。即使遇到困难和挑战，我也应当学会‘反弹问题’的方法。”

我还学会了如何很好地权衡学习和休闲活动的时间，学会如何使用已有的技能去承担责任，立足现实去思考，独立地学习与工作。我相信，这些能力在我未来应对繁重的学业或挑战时都是不可或缺的。