The Classroom as a Makerspace: Use of Tablets and Cutting Plotter to Create Pop-Up Cards in Educational Environments

Alejandro Bonnet De León,Eliseo García Marrero,Cecile Meier,Jose Luis Saorín,Jorge De La Torre-Cantero

doi:10.3991/ijet.v14i10.10284

Alejandro Bonnet De León, Eliseo García Marrero + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i10.10284

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Abstract

In some classrooms the use of digital tablets for students is already standardized and is integrated into the teaching-learning process of the school. On the other hand, the use of cutting plotters is not common, although they are low-cost, easy to use and transportable devices. These machines are usually found in digital fab-rication spaces such as Makerspaces, Fab labs, etc. However, it is interesting to introduce these technologies in traditional classrooms. This article describes an experience carried out at Colegio San Isidro, Los Salesianos de la Orotava, Tene-rife in the 3rd year of secondary school in the subject of plastic, visual and audio-visual expression, in which an activity of design and creation of pop-up cards has been carried out. This activity is made in many subjects in order to develop crea-tivity or to understand three-dimensional concepts (mathematics, plastic, etc.). This activity involves cutting and folding paper that is usually done with scissors or cutter. It is proposed to digitalize this activity by means of digital tablets and portable cutting plotters. At the end of the activity, all the students were able to make their pop-up card using the proposed technologies and felt able to carry out the work autonomously.

Highlights

From 2013 it is already indicated that digital tablets will be technologies that will have an impact on education in the coming years
Digital tablets and mobile devices are used by 83 % of children at the age of 14 [1]
One of the most extensive tablet studies "The iPad as a tool for education - a case study" [2] demonstrates the significant and very positive impact on students' teaching and learning. Due to their portability and autonomy, allow any classroom to be converted into a digital space and are positively accepted by actual students without any problem [3]

Summary

Introduction

From 2013 it is already indicated that digital tablets will be technologies that will have an impact on education in the coming years. There are many forms of kirigami, but the most widespread is the one that folds a paper in half, cuts a shape and generates a three-dimensional piece when opened [14] This technique is known as pop-up [15, 16]. The oldest example of this surviving activity is a symmetrical circle, found in Xinjiang, China, dating from the 11th century [18] This was initially a knowledge that was transmitted orally until, in 1721, the first published reference on folding and cutting paper appears in a Japanese book by Kan Chu Sen [19]

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