Pay it forward: Getting 3D printers into schools

Students and teachers in the Winchester (MA) public schools have been working to create a `pay it forward' model that will help other educators and technical enthusiasts obtain and use their own 3D printers. Anyone who receives help from Winchester in building a 3D printer must agree to help two other school groups to build their own 3D printer, therefore fulfilling their role to `pay it forward' to schools across the country. This exponentially expanding model not only assists in the widespread distribution of 3D printers for educational purposes, but also helps students to understand how technological ideas are discussed, developed, and distributed.