The Okemos Education Foundation (OEF) has once again demonstrated its commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for Okemos Public Schools students. Through a generous grant, the foundation has provided a state-of-the-art 3D printer to the Redbud 3rd and 4th-grade classroom at Okemos Public Montessori @ Central, taught by Christine Batora.

This 3D printer will significantly enrich the academic and technological instruction of the 30 students in the classroom. It will be a valuable tool for students across all subjects, providing hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

The printer has already been put to good use, offering students opportunities to explore coding through the Tinkercad site. Tinkercad teaches children how to use computer-aided design (CAD), a skill used in many industries. By learning CAD, students are developing essential skills that will prepare them for future academic and career paths.

The OEF’s generosity has not only benefited the Redbud classroom but will also positively impact the two other classes that our students buddy with: the preschool-Kindergarten and the 1st/2nd-grade classroom. The 3D printer will become a valuable resource for collaborative projects and shared learning experiences.

The 3D printer is an integral part of the technology lessons provided by our district educational coach, Mrs. Suzie Ziel. Mrs. Ziel visits our classroom monthly to teach technology and coding lessons, and the printer offers a hands-on component that enhances these lessons.

The request for the 3D printer came after a year of successful use of two older versions in the classroom. Students utilized these printers to program designs in connection with social justice and social-emotional lessons, language arts, science, mathematics, and social studies. The new printer will allow for even more advanced and sophisticated projects.

The Okemos Education Foundation’s commitment to providing innovative educational resources is truly inspiring. Their generosity has made a significant difference in the lives of our Okemos Public Montessori @Central 3rd and 4th grade Redbud students and has helped to create a more engaging and enriching learning environment. We are grateful for their support and look forward to the many exciting opportunities that the 3D printer will provide for our students.

– Christine Batora