Young creators discover 3D

Why we initiated this project

Non-formal learning plays an important role in supporting the development of essential creative, interpersonal, communicative and cognitive skills. Critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication rank among the most important 21st century skills.

Coupled with relevant digital and technological competencies, they open more opportunities in the employment scene. However, an existing offer of technological education is of limited availability for young people, especially those with fewer opportunities due to economic, social or geographical obstacles.

Project Goals and Objectives

The Consortium set a goal to develop creative skills among at least 300 young people and to strengthen at least 30 youth workers and educators’ competencies in delivering innovative non-formal activities by offering a 3D workshop methodology to respond to the limited availability of up-to-date, non-formal technological education.

We focused on the target age group 13-18, as they comprise the majority of youngsters active at open youth centers in partner and associated organizations.

 The objectives of the project were to:

  •  Develop a 3D modelling and printing workshop methodology.
  •  Provide competence development for youth workers and educators, as key actors in the implementation and sustainability of the produced intellectual output in partner and associated organizations.
  • Engage young people, including with fewer opportunities due to social, economic and/or geographical obstacles, in exciting technological activities based on non-formal learning principles in their community/city/town.
  •  Disseminate the project’s intellectual outputs across youth, governmental, non-governmental, various educational sectors.

Non-tangible results:

  • Increase of skills and competences of partners’ staff and collaborators.
  • Increase of skills and competences of young people.
  • Expansion of the non-formal educational offer for partner and associated organisations.

Activities of the project

Intellectual output

Development of 3D modelling and printing methodology for young people, including: learning content, methodological guidelines, non-formal methods, recommendations for youth workers and a feedback from the research, all available online at play.gaminu.eu. The materials are available in English, Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian.

Training

A 5-day training for youth workers from partner and associated organisations was held in August 2021 in Lithuania. 30 youth workers and educators joined this course and gained knowledge of 3D modelling with TinkerCAD, 3D printing, silicone molding, use of 3D in Youth Work, non-formal activities and evaluation methods.  

Local workshops

Testing and validating the methodology with young people at partner organisations and associated partners was implemented between October 2021 and May 2022.  More than 300 young people (more than 100 of them with fewer opportunities) were involved in piloting of the 3D methodology during local workshops in three partner countries.

Multiplier events

Presentation of the project’s results at local, regional, national and European levels. More than 70 young persons, youth workers, educators, teachers, policy makers, industry representatives participated in multiplier events in 3 partner countries. They had a chance to try out the techniques used in project workshops. 

Research

Implementation of a product quality and skill development survey to collect feedback from the testing activities for the upgrade of the guidelines. The survey  measured the development of competences of youth workers and youngsters before and after local workshops. Good practices were presented in the methodological guidelines.

Dissemination

Dissemination of the project’s activities and achievements at local, regional, national, international and European levels added to the promotion of 3D printing technology among young people as a contemporary digital skill. The dissemination will continue after the project’s official end.