Trick or Treat? The Hidden Pitfalls of 3D Printing in Schools

Tuesday, October 20 | 1:00 PM PT | 4:00 PM ET

There’s more to choosing a 3D printer than what’s on the spec sheet because what looks like a treat might come with a few tricks.

Price, features, print speed, and ease of use are all important—but they’re only part of the picture when bringing 3D printing into a school.

What about student data privacy? Copyright and intellectual property? Safety and security? Long-term support? Or whether a new feature actually adds value to the learning experience?

Join Brandy Jackson of Scoutlier and Dottie Stewart, VP of Education at UltiMaker, two former educators with deep experience in education technology and student privacy, for a candid conversation about the questions schools should be asking before investing in—or expanding—their 3D printing programs.

What’s a Trick? What’s a Treat?

• Copyright & intellectual property: When does easy access to ready-to-print models raise questions about ownership and originality?

• Student data privacy: Where is student information stored, what’s collected, and who has access?

• Safety & security: What should schools consider around physical safety, security, access, and approval?

• Features & educational value: Do the latest features meaningfully support learning—and what tradeoffs come with them?

• Long-term sustainability: What will parts, filament, software, service, and support look like years from now?

More Treats. Fewer Tricks.

Whether you’re evaluating your first 3D printer or already have a 3D printing program in place, you’ll leave with practical questions you can use to take a closer look at the technology you’re considering—or already using.

About Brandy Jackson

Brandy Jackson is an educator and education technology leader with expertise in student data privacy, secure technology adoption, and classroom innovation. Through her work with Scoutlier, she helps schools make thoughtful technology decisions that put students and learning first.