Dimension Helps Bishop Reding Students Become Inventors

Innovation fueled by fun – that’s what students can look forward to when they sign up for the Robotics Challenge, the Engineering Club or enroll in one of Bruce Mazer’s Computer Engineering courses at Bishop Reding Secondary School in Milton, Ontario.

Bishop Reding offers four Computer Engineering courses starting in grade 9 and extending to grade 12 as well as a summer engineering camp for grade 7 and 8 students. The course of study is essentially a pre-mechatronics program and is designed to teach students how to create useful, intelligent products by employing skills and concepts from across the engineering spectrum including mechanical, electrical, design and computer engineering.

“The Computer Engineering courses demand that students take a look at a variety of systems and components that allow new products and devices to work properly,” said Mazer. “This can include programming software, mechanical design, ergonomics, etc. – all the things that might go into designing a cell phone, for instance.”

Successfully working through the design of a new product frequently requires that the students manufacture custom parts and components. This stage of the process proved difficult for students and teachers prior to purchasing the Dimension 3D printer.

“We worked in the manufacturing and construction labs to fabricate parts from metal and wood, but more often than not, these parts did not meet the required design specification” said Mazer. “When our school board technology consultant, Robert DeRubeis, saw a Dimension 3D printer in action at the ITEA and OCTE conferences, he knew it was just what was needed to enhance the ‘fabrication’ portion of our program.” With the support of Rick MacDonald, Superintendent of Curriculum Services, the board purchased two Dimension 3D Printers.