MechSE’s Joe Muskin Enlightens Local Youngsters About 3D Printing During Champaign Public Library Event

August 17, 2018

A youngster removes the Eifel Towers he and his partner 3D printed at the Champaign Public Library acitivty.
A youngster removes the Eifel Towers he and his partner 3D printed at the Champaign Public Library acitivty.

Does learning about STEM have to stop just because it’s summer vacation? A number of local youth (and their moms) say, “No!” So on July 25, 20 teens (and preteens) showed up at the Champaign Public Library (CPL) for 3D Pringing 101 to learn about, then experiment with, Stereolithographic 3D printing. Courtesy of Mechanical Science and Engineering’s Joe Muskin, the participants first learned a bit about the technology: they explored the equipment that's used, and learned how and why 3D printing works, including learning about the light spectrum. But even more fun was actually doing the printing itself; plus, they left the CPL armed with a couple of 3D printed objects they could whip out as proof when boasting about the activity to friends and family.

Stereolithographic 3D printing uses ultraviolet light to cure a resin comprised of photosensitive polymers layer by layer. After seeing a brief PowerPoint about the specifics, the participants worked in pairs to use a CAD (computer-aided design) software program on laptops, following step-by-step instructions to make miniature objects, such as Batmobiles or Eifel Towers, to name a few. As the participants slowly raised the build platform, the software would trigger a release of a concentrated beam of ultraviolet light for a specific time period to form each layer of the object.

Joe Muskin explains  3D printing to the young participants.
Joe Muskin explains 3D printing to the young participants.

Organized by Kathie Kading, the Teen Librarian, the 3D printing activity was one of several she and a team of colleagues came up with as they tried to identify different areas in which they thought teens might be interested. She then reached out to people in the community to implement the programs. And evidently Joe Muskin, MechSE’s STEM Outreach guru (his official title is Education Coordinator), is one of their go-to guys.

“Joe is one of our people who always has a packed house, so we invite him back each year,” Kading reports. Joe has done a number of different activities, including robotics, in addition to 3D printing, as well as other hands-on activities, which Kading says, “are always a hit!”

She continues, “People are looking for those STEAM programs, and so we've got the arts; we've got the sciences. And this year we added a business component, and that was yesterday. It was really well received too.”

A pair of miniature Batmobiles a team of participants 3D printed at the Champaign Public Library acitivty.
A pair of miniature Batmobiles a team of participants 3D printed at the Champaign Public Library acitivty.

She admits that she pretty much gives Joe free reign to choose what he wants to do. “For him, I'll leave it up to him, because he is just such a great presenter, and he does this throughout the community.” However, she says that with other people, she often works collaboratively with them, “Because not everyone I seek out has had experience working with teens,” she explains.

Kading explains why the library does these kinds of events, especially STEM-related events, for teens. During the school year, the library has drop-in programs where people can just come in and join. However, in the summer, parents have things more scheduled for their kids, so the library tries accommodate. So CPL still has a drop-in program on Tuesdays, but also provides summer programming for which parents much register because only a limited number of kids can be served. She explains the benefits of these types of events.

“Families are looking for this kind of thing, and ours are all free, and sometimes that's a component that makes a difference.” For instance, many other local programs might cost $100 or more, so this kind of program provides STEM education opportunities for families with limited budgets, including some member of underserved populations. “This one kind of [levels] the playing field, I think, for everyone."

She says some kids might not be ready for programs of this type, so parents try out their program to see if their teen is ready to come to a program where they're not there supervising.

Muskin explains the visible light spectrum to the young participants.
Muskin explains the visible light spectrum to the young participants.

However, she also says that kids come looking to gain expertise or become more knowledgeable about an area. She reports that several teens interested in starting a business who participated in their business event “actually came to hear ‘What can I do to really get myself ahead?’"

Another benefit of her program is that kids can just explore, to determine, “Am I interested in science? Am I interested in the arts? Am I interested? What might I be interested in?” She says it allows parents to send them, then talk with them at home, asking, "Hey, what did you think about this?"

Kading appreciates having a world-class university in her back yard as a resource. “We absolutely love the university!” she gushes. “They really work with us. We have a lot of the clubs that come and then also staff from the university, and they just bring so much to the table.”

Areli Olayo (left), a local eighth grader adjusts the apparatus for the next level.
Areli Olayo (left), a local eighth grader adjusts the apparatus for the next level.

Why did the kids show up, other than that mom made them? One local youngster, Areli Olayo, a rising eighth grader whose favorite subject is math, wasn't quite sure about the benefits of coming to an event like this (“Uh, learning something I guess”); however, she enjoyed the activity. “I think it's really cool,” she reports. An ideal elder sister, she indicates that when she finished 3D printing her Batmobile, she intended to: “Probably just give it to my little brother.”

Esperanza removes the Batmobile she 3D printed using a razor blade.
Esperanza removes the Batmobile she 3D printed using a razor blade.

Areli’s older sister, Esperanza, who will be a freshman in high school this fall, also participated. Although their mom didn't tell them until the day before that they were coming to the library event, she admits, “So I was excited when I heard about it,” she says, then explains why: “I've never done it before,” she admits. “It always seemed cool, but I never thought I would actually get a chance to learn about it.”

While Esperanza explains that her favorite subject in school is history, she qualifies, “I love science too!”

Olaya's third child, her son Elijah, listens to the instructions about how to do the 3D printing activity.
Olayo's third child, her son Elijah, listens to the instructions about how to do the 3D printing activity.

The girls’ mother, Karen Olayo, explains why she brought her three kids to the activity.

“I am always looking for learning opportunities for my children,” she acknowledges, “especially things that I don't know about…I want them to learn about technology and expand their own vision and imaginations for what they might do in the future someday.”

Elijah Olayo shows off the Batmobile he 3D printed.
Elijah Olayo shows off the Batmobile he 3D printed.

She cites the benefit of exposing her youngsters to hands-on STEM activities, such as the 3D printing: “Kids need to be challenged to think outside the box,” she acknowledges.

“Seeing and taking part in workshops like these, I believe, helps them to reach for higher goals and use their imagination better. It also gets them excited about science and opens their minds to a world of new possibilities.”

Another benefit of the event? Olayo concurs with what Kading mentioned earlier: “Free also is REALLY nice,” she admits.

And of course, she appreciates how much they enjoy events like this:

“It's just plain fun!” she adds. “I love when they come tell me how exciting it was to learn something new—especially when it's cutting-edge technology!”

 


Story and photographs by Elizabeth Innes, Communications Specialist, I-STEM Education Initiative.
More: Champaign-Urbana Community, Faculty Feature, MechSE, Undergrad, Undergrad Education Reform, 2018

For additional I-STEM articles highlighting some of Joe Muskin’s STEM Education Outreach in campus, please see:

The two sisters discuss which object to print.
The two sisters discuss which object to print.




SOLIDarity EXperiences (SOLIDEX) through the Eyes of Children

What do children aged 11-13 in two countries think about solidarity?
Full Story

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company

Students launch ASL STEM Vocabulary App Company
Full Story

Innovation, Inspiration on display at the Undergraduate Research Symposium

Undergraduate Research Week took place April 23-29, 2023, and culminated Thursday, April 27, 2023
Full Story

What would you like to see – 3D printers? Magnets? Solar-powered racing cars? Robobrawl?

March 28, 2023
EOH occurs Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Full Story

Tour of Illinois’ Materials Research Lab through I-MRSEC sparks Franklin students’ interest in Materials Science

March 1, 2023
Students from the Champaign middle school had a tour of the Material Research Laboratory (MRL) in early February.
Full Story

Nobel Project’s End-of-Year Zoom Bash Recaps Learning

February 1, 2022
The STEM Illinois Nobel Project held a special, end-of-the-year Zoom event celebrating its participating students’ achievements.
Full Story

It’s not magic, it’s physics

January 26, 2022
In Franklin STEAM Academy, Musical Magnetism program makes STEM fun, approachable.
Full Story

Program prepares STEM educators to teach all students

November 30, 2021
This summer, a group of educators gathered to learn about engaging STEM activities they can do with their students.
Full Story

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program

November 11, 2021
Undergrads get a taste of research through I-MRSEC’s REU program.
Full Story

Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp

November 1, 2021
Goldstein’s Renaissance Engineering Summer Camp Incorporates Art, Design, Mechatronics, and Mentoring
Full Story

TechTogether Chicago to Redefine the Hacker Stereotype

July 10, 2021
New workshops that can help inspire students to pursue careers in technology..
Full Story

Aerospace Engineering Launches Virtual Summer Camps to Pique Students’ Interest in Aero.

July 2, 2021
Design an aircraft then watch it soar after launching it with a huge rubber band. Build a Mars lander to safely transport a real egg, then test the contraption by dropping it from a second story window.
Full Story

Undergrads Experience Materials Science Research Courtesy of the I-MRSEC REU

June 16, 2021
Ten undergraduate students are spending the summer of 2021 discovering what research is like.
Full Story

MatSE Afterschool Academy

MatSE Afterschool Academy

June 14, 2021
MatSE Afterschool Academy to Introduce Students to Materials Science and Beyond.
Full Story

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest

June 14, 2021
Taylor Tucker Embraces Multidisciplinary Interest While Researching Task Collaboration.
Full Story

Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS

What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like?

May 25, 2021
NSBE’s Michaela Horn Exposes Franklin Middle Schoolers to Science, CS, and What Studying Engineering at Illinois is Like.
Full Story

Jenny Saves a Convertible.

Children’s-Book-Writing Duo/

May 19, 2021
Convertibles and Thunderstorms—Children’s-Book-Writing Duo on Their Way Thanks to Illinois Training and Encouragement from Mentors.
Full Story

Improve Learning in Engineering

Improve Learning in Engineering

May 17, 2021
Liebenberg Espouses Mini-Projects to Engage Students Emotionally, Improve Learning in Engineering.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

BIOE435 Capstone Projects

May 12, 2021
BIOE435 Capstone Projects - BIOE Seniors Use Knowledge/Skills to Problem Solve.
Full Story

Elani and Gonzalo shine a UV light on a rose that has absorbed a solution that has made it fluorescent.

Illinois Scientists Shine a (UV) Light on Fluorescence

May 7, 2021
What is fluorescence? What causes it?
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

HackIllinois 2021 “Rekindled Connections” With The Tech Community

May 5, 2021
Annual student hackathon HackIllinois with the aim of developing projects on current problems facing society.
Full Story

A Shane Mayer-Gawlik image of the Bridger Aurora, part of his Night Skies photography collection exhibited at the Art-Science Festival.

The Art-Science Festival

April 26, 2021
Illinois Art-Science Festival: Illuminating the Universe...from the Quantum World to the Cosmos.
Full Story

Joshua Whitely makes an adjustment to the 3D Bioprinter during the demo.

Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World

April 22, 2021
Ready. Set. Go! Illinois Engineering Seniors Prepared to Change the World.
Full Story

HML 2021 Virtual Health

HML 2021 Virtual Health

April 19, 2021
Make-a-Thon Gives Citizen Scientists a Shot at Making Their Health-Related Innovations a Reality.
Full Story

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

April 7, 2021
I-MRSEC’s Music Video for EOH ’21 Plugs Graphene, 2D Materials
Full Story

Health Make-a-Thon Orientation

HML 2021 Health Orientation

March 30, 2021
HML 2021 Health Make-a-Thon Orientation Prepares Finalists for Competition.
Full Story

Andrea Perry shows Franklin students how to take apart the magnetic drawing board they received in their kit

Musical Magnetism

March 25, 2021
Musical Magnetism: Encouraging Franklin Middle Schoolers to Express Science Via the Arts.
Full Story

Carmen Paquette street performing.

Love of Science

March 9, 2021
Paquette Conveys Her Love of Science, Dance to Franklin STEAM Students Via Musical Magnetism.
Full Stroy

An Engineering Exploration participant exhibits the tower they built as part of the engineering challenge related to Civil Engineering

Engineering Exploration

March 2, 2021
SWE’s Engineering Exploration Outreach Lives Up to Its Name.

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

ChiS&E’s Family STEM Day

February 23, 2021
Helps Chicago Youngsters Progress Along the STEM Pipeline Toward Engineering.

Kathny Walsh

Kathy Walsh

February 17, 2021
On Her First Foray into STEAM, Kathy Walsh Acquaints Franklin Students with Microscopy, Haiku.

ChiS&E student

ChiS&E CPS Students

January 19, 2021
Illinois Undergrads Encourage ChiS&E CPS Students Toward Possible Careers in Engineering.

I-MRSEC’s Music Video

CISTEME365 Provides Year-Round PD/Community

January 4, 2021
to Illinois Teachers in Support of Informal STEM Education Efforts to Underserved Students.