Spencer Payton - Summit Academy

students presenting to the class infront of a Clevertouch IMPACT interactive display

The integration of 3D printing technology brought numerous benefits to Spencer's classroom and his students.

Spencer leveraged Robo 3D printers (MimioSTEM by Boxlight) to introduce cutting-edge technology into his classroom.

Overall, Spencer's dedication to fostering an engineering mindset and facilitating real-life connections exemplifies how educators can build 21st-century skills and inspire the next generation of innovators

Installation Snapshot:

Summit Academy is a 6-12 Pathway school
Students range in age from 12-21
Offers smaller, individualized learning environments
Current enrollment: 233 students

The Challenge

Spencer Payton, Science Teacher at Summit Academy in Denver, CO, faced the challenge of inspiring a diverse student population to actively engage in their learning journey. With a mission to empower students to advocate for themselves and be active learners, Spencer recognized the need to transform traditional lessons into dynamic, hands-on experiences.

Key Solutions

To address this challenge, Spencer leveraged Robo 3D printers (MimioSTEM by Boxlight) to introduce cutting-edge technology into his classroom. By integrating 3D printing technology, Spencer provided his students with the tools to foster an engineering mindset. Through designing and prototyping projects, students developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills while seeing the direct application of classroom learning to real-life situations. Spencer found Robo 3D printers particularly effective due to their ease-of-use, efficiency, and consistency, allowing him to focus more on teaching and less on managing the technology.

Benefits

The integration of 3D printing technology brought numerous benefits to Spencer's classroom and his students. First, it deepened their understanding of STEM concepts by providing tangible, experiential learning opportunities. Second, it cultivated a sense of ownership and confidence in their abilities as they saw their designs come to life. Third, it empowered students to envision themselves in STEM careers by increasing accessibility to technology and making learning relevant to future job opportunities.

Overall, Spencer's dedication to fostering an engineering mindset and facilitating real-life connections exemplifies how educators can build 21st-century skills and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Watch this video testimonial from Spencer!