Giving Compass' Take:

• Many school makerspaces have 3D printers that health workers can use to make protective gear that is useful for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• What are other ways that we can leverage technology to help address the pandemic? 

• Learn more about innovation in the face of coronavirus. 

Massachusetts high school senior Emmanuel Cuevas, whose parents are doctors, is using his 3D printer to make personal protective gear for two hospitals, District Administration reports.

John Provost, superintendent of Northampton Public Schools, where Cuevas attends, says his efforts show the importance of information technology and innovation pathways curriculum, and that he is among a number of students who are organizing to meet coronavirus-related needs.

With more career and technical education and technology in high schools, students have had opportunities to learn to develop products and devices that help others in the community. For instance, students at West Leyden High School, near Chicago, have previously used a 3D printer to make custom prosthetic hands for those who can’t afford them. It’s the outreach that’s important, Frank Holthouse, who taught engineering at West Leyden, told Fast Company.

Other districts are also using 3D printers to create face shields. Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee also donated other types of personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and gowns.

Many districts host makerspaces that have allowed students to come up with their own creations. Many feature 3D printers, and even if they are currently inaccessible to students, these tools offer educators another chance to lend a hand in their communities during this health crisis.

A number of DIY movements have popped up nationwide, along with a selection of online resources.

Read the full article about school makerspaces in the time of COVID-19 by Shawna De La Rosa at Education Dive.