The goal of mathematics curriculum for primary and secondary schools in European Union is to help students apply their mathematical knowledge and skills to solve problems and make decisions. However, there is a large number of students that faces learning difficulties with mathematics. 6% of students lack of mathematical skills, and specifically lack of arithmetic ability which seems to rely on different cognitive processes. Technology might play an important role in overcoming the above difficulties. Actually we assume that technology and more specifically 3D printing technology could aim students understanding and adoring maths. 3D printing is an innovative technology. An emerging problem is the cost of the filament. In order to solve the above cost problem, recycle seems to be an answer. The procedure of use waste in order to transform it to a filament, could reduce environmental pollution and might contribute to decrease the 3D printing cost. According to European Strategy on Plastic Waste in the Environment signifies that “the inherent characteristics of plastic create specific challenges for waste management”. The aim of 3D-ReMath is to help students understand better maths and become familiar with technology and the procedure of recycling. More specifically students could collect plastic (plastics caps, or bags, or pens, etc.) and then by using a proposed framework for transforming plastic to filament, suitable for 3D printers, they can use this material to print 3D objects which help them to overpass difficulties that they face in mathematics. 3D-ReMath aims pupils to understand maths, to reduce-reuse-recycle products and finally get them familiarized with an innovative fabrication technology. Activities of this project include: • A map that identifying maths disabilities and group them to categories based the grade of each disability. • Nine (9) curricula for teaching maths to students with disabilities, for recycling procedure, for 3D printing. • A framework for converting plastics to filament suitable for a 3D printer. • Three (3) face to face trainee programs for teachers. • A portal will be developed in order to upload materials of the project a communication spot between all partners and all stakeholders. • An overall report, with evaluation results and proposals about learning education methods and tools. • One (1) international conference entitled “Overcoming learning disabilities using technology and ecology”. 3D-ReMath will encourage students to use maths in their rural lives, skip any possible “fear” concerning maths and understand much better the theory of maths. 3D-ReMath Project will increase their imagination and empower their skills of problem solving and creativity as long as increase their ability of thinking-designing and producing. Teachers will be encouraged to introduce a “new world” to their students, a world that include non-fearful maths, positive actions of re-using plastic and non-usable items and the feeling that they can produce a new item by themselves. Participant Universities will gain from the 3D-ReMath Project due to teachers’ training sessions and the participatory design. Universities will develop their collaborative and communication skills and they will actively interact with the members of the 3D-ReMath Project (students, teachers, researchers, etc.).
The main goal was to support students to integrate mathematics into their daily lives, to overcome any "fear" of applying mathematical concepts & operations and finally to understand relevant theories in more favorable terms. The Project aimed to enhance the imagination and the creativity of students and to strengthen their skills. Supplies necessary, for problem solving and capacity building, related to the triptych composed by the concepts of thought, design and production. Teachers participating in the Project receive a multilevel and targeted knowledge in order to address specific learning difficulties in mathematics, through the use of innovative technology. Accordingly, they penetrate the concepts of recycling and reuse of materials. The knowledge formed in the fields of mathematics, 3D printing & recycling, is transformed into educational material, which is used, in a 2nd phase, in order to address the identified needs. Teachers have access to an educational material which can introduce the students to a new world where mathematics, 3D printing and recycly composes aν innovative and sustainable way of living.
At European Union level, the Mathematics curriculum is primarily aimed at supporting students in decision making and problem solving, through the use of mathematical knowledge and skills. However, there are students who face some learning difficulties related to mathematics. In particular, 6% of students lacks of mathematical skills and show deficiencies in arithmetic skills, which could be attributed to various cognitive processes. The answer to the need of addressing the lack of skills could be sought among other areas and fields of knowledge and that of technology and even in the innovative application of 3D printing. Another area, in addition to technology, that the project focused on was the environment and specifically its protection through recycling. More over, the necessary material for 3D printing, called PLA (plastic), could be replaced by a special thread that would be created by students with recycled material while responding to the dual need. In this light, the application for the 3D-ReMath Project was based on the assumption that 3D printing could help primary and secondary school students better understand mathematics and at the same time become familiar with the concept of recycling.