Answering the Call: Schools, Teachers and Students Use 3D Printers to Make Face Shields, Masks for Health Care Workers on the Front Lines
This article, part of a series on , highlights the inspiring stories of heroes, triumphs, success, and acts of kindness in schools across America. To read more uplifting profiles, visit The74Million.org/series/inspiring.
When it comes to professions that require problem-solving and creativity, teaching is definitely at the top of the list. So, when there was a shortage of protective masks for healthcare workers, teachers across the country took it upon themselves to find a solution.
Emily Frawley, a middle school science and social studies teacher, came across an article about a doctor using a 3D printer to produce masks. It sparked an idea in her mind. Realizing that she had the necessary skills, she approached the officials at The Windward School in White Plains, New York, where she taught, to seek permission to use the school’s Makerbot 3D printers for this purpose.
In a post on the school’s website, Frawley expressed her belief in utilizing one’s skills and available resources to find solutions. She encouraged others to explore ideas that may initially seem ambitious, as they might lead to impactful outcomes.
Frawley took to social media to seek assistance, specifically reaching out to dentists and medical professionals who may not be seeing patients at that time. She also asked if anyone knew someone who could help with 3D printing designs. Through these channels, she received donations of materials required to create the masks, including medical-grade filter fabric. However, finding elastic proved to be a challenge. Eventually, she managed to obtain 200 yards of it, allowing her to print up to 12 masks daily.
Frawley is not alone in her efforts. Jeff Motz and Rob Robison, industrial tech teachers from the Johnston Community School District in Iowa, set up 3D printers in their garages. They tirelessly worked through the night to produce components for face shields that could be donated to healthcare facilities and nursing homes in their area, as reported by the Des Moines Register.
Similarly, teachers and students at The Viewpoint School in Calabasas, California, have printed over 400 face masks, visors, and other protective equipment for local hospitals, according to the Calabasas Patch.
The Information Services Department at the Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania is also contributing to the cause. They are using seven 3D printers to create headbands for face shields. They have partnered with the Kohelet Yeshiva in Merion, which supplies the plastic shields, as mentioned by the Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood Patch.
These teachers and schools are using their resources and skills to make a difference during these challenging times. They are truly heroes, making an impact and inspiring others to follow their lead.
The collaborative effort involves multiple teachers and students who are actively contributing to the cause. I am pleased to be part of this initiative and am grateful for the support we have received. Posted by Jake Spearson on Thursday, April 9, 2020
In Rye, New York, Cathie Bischoff, the director of Rye Country Day School’s STEAM Initiative, along with a group of five teachers, has come together to produce protective face shields for healthcare workers and first responders who are in dire need of them.
The teachers are responsible for creating the rims of the face shields, which are then delivered to the Connecticut Personal Protection Equipment Project at the Danbury Hackerspace. There, the face coverings are 3D-printed, assembled into complete shields, and distributed to local hospitals.
#Community #PPE production update! The RCDS #STEAM team, comprising of faculty and students, has donated over 200 #3Dprinted face shield rims as of today! #onward Get involved! We still need fabric and printed masks!https://t.co/b2iNb96XAX#maker#NotForSelfButForService#local pic.twitter.com/H7Kbye9y1W— RCDS Innovative Teaching & Learning (@ryecountryday) April 17, 2020
Bischoff, speaking on the school’s website, expressed her admiration for the initiative, stating, "It’s truly inspiring to see. Anyone and everyone can contribute. As educators in STEAM fields, it holds great significance for us to be part of this 3D printing project."
Students and families from the school who have access to 3D printers have joined the effort, while those who have more basic technology, such as sewing machines, are creating cloth masks instead.
Frawley, from The Windward School, emphasized the importance of utilizing teachable moments that arise from helping during the COVID-19 crisis.
"I believe it’s easy for middle school students, like mine, to dismiss potential careers in science, art, and math. I know I did at their age. However, this experience can certainly inspire some of them to see how we can transform a negative situation into something positive," Frawley shared with . "Once they become comfortable with the technology we have been introducing, I plan to introduce them to a website where they can create their own 3D printer designs. Once the situation improves in the local hospitals here in NYC, I can print their creations and find a way to deliver or mail them."
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