Overcoming Disabilities and Enforce Social Inclusion via 3D printing

This project aimed to form a transnational team of partners who would create educational material using the 3DPrinting technology in order to revolutionize the teaching and learning process of both general and special education students, creating opportunities for hands-on, interactive learning while fostering inclusion and acceptance across teacher and student population. The project also aimed to enhance teachers’ skills by providing a multilevel and targeted knowledge in order to address learning difficulties in various fields, through the use of an innovative technology. The concept and goal of this project are in line with the European Commission's call for actions that promote the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, as well as the SDGs of the UN2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development The key needs addressed in this project are: the enhancement of teaching of both neurotypical and special needs students, using the 3D printing; the reinforcement of the learning process of students with disabilities and the awareness raising to the neurotypical students' population over the former's learning patterns, and daily routine, resulting in wider social inclusion, equality and non-discrimination.

The project's initial goal was to create an educational program that would enable the cultivation of basic and digital skills in both general and special education students. A key pillar of this program was the utilization of innovative technology such as 3D printing, which was integrated into the students' everyday lives, also constituting a connecting link in the implementation of joint activities. Specifically, the following were pursued through “3DDeSI”: 1. Facilitate the understanding of general education students over the possibilities of technology to improve the ability of students with disabilities to act and learn 2. Facilitate students with disabilities to learn more efficiently, using 3D printing technology as a support tool, drawing from activities offered in general education schools 3. Integrate 3D printing in students’ daily life, and familiarize students with the different applications of this innovative technology 4. Come in contact with students of different types of schools, raising public awareness and foster integration and cooperation 5. Reduce exclusion and increase equal opportunities in education.

Activities implemented include: 1. Coordination, planning and monitoring in the framework of the Project management work package and compilation of 2 Booklets. 2. Creation of a “Map regarding the disabilities and learning difficulties” of pupils with special needs 3. Development of a report identifying the opportunities and challenges in primary and secondary - general and special - education schools in order to highlight the points of connection between the different systems. 4. Creation of 3 educational curricula related to: i. 3D design and 3D modeling ii. 3D printing technology iii. 3D scanning 5. Integration of digital technologies and training in 3D printing in primary and secondary schools, during which the teachers of the involved schools are trained so that they can then transmit the knowledge digitally to their students. [3 Teaching and Learning Activities] 6. Organization of 4 Transnational Project Meetings, 3 of which were in person and 1 online. 7. Creation of a "digital portal" for the dissemination of the actions and results of the Project 8. Organization of 5 Multiplier Events (ME). 9. Evaluation of the project 10. Organization of an International Conference to disseminate the results of the Project.

Through 3DDeSI, the following results were produced: 1. A map was created regarding the disabilities and the learning difficulties of pupils with special needs 2. A report was developed for identifying the opportunities and challenges in general and vocational schools. The ultimate goal of this result was to document that different educational systems can create a field of cooperation in the utilization of innovative technologies in the educational process. 3. Curricula were developed for 3 different modules: 3D design, 3D printing, 3D scanning. All curricula were designed based on the individual needs of the collaborating schools with the core of their action being the utilization of 3D printing. 4. It became possible to integrate digital technologies and provide education on the subject of 3D printing in general and vocational schools. Teachers were trained in order to function as multipliers and about 3D printing to their students. 5. A website was created and operates for the dissemination of results, with the main goal of ensuring its sustainability. 6. Implementation and Evaluation of the project. 7. A Conference was held to disseminate the results of the project with participants within and of course outside the 3DDeSIteam