Chapter 17: Toward a Design-Centered Scientific Mindset: Closing the Opportunity Gaps via 3D Design and Printing in STEM Teacher Education

Maker technologies such as 3D design and printing provide unprecedented opportunities for STEM teacher educators to incorporate design-based STEM learning experiences in a teacher education program to transform the nature of STEM education and further empower preservice teachers as problem solvers and agents for educational change. Under the framework of design thinking and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) expectation of using and developing models, this chapter reflects on the authors’ own making experiences in 3D design and printing as teacher educators in elementary preservice teacher education, and reports on the initial research findings using stories, evaluation data, and voices of our pre-service teachers. Further, an invitation is extended to all STEM educators to consider the affordances of maker technologies in curricular development and research to close the opportunity gaps and address equity issues in STEM education under a design-centered scientific mindset.