Physical prototyping (EdTech)

Physical prototyping technologies allow people to make physical objects and experiment with the development of hardware, electronics, and 3-dimensional objects to test the functionality and ideas. Physical prototyping technologies allow people to get ideas for three-dimensional functional objects out of their heads and off of paper and into real life existence.

For many ideas, building it in the physical world helps to flesh out the idea and better understand the constraints and manufacturing requirements for any physical objects that are to be used in a learning environment.

Similarly, physical prototyping is an excellent activity for people to generate their own ideas, work on projects, explore content, and practice design skills.

There are multiple types of physical prototyping technologies:

• 3D printers, which create physical 3-dimensional objects out of plastics (and sometimes metal) which were designed in a computer CAD program. 3D printers are also referred to as additive manufacturing technologies as they build shapes by adding materials in layers.
• Microcontrollers, such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, which are small computers that can be programmed and placed inside and on objects so that they can do computations, take input from sensors (such as microphones, cameras, and buttons), and give electronic outputs (such as lights, displays, and sounds).
• Subtractive manufacturing, such as CNC machines, laser cutters, and other technologies that remove material to sculpt a 3-dimensional shape.
• Physical models, with glue, cardboard, foam, paper, and scissors are still useful technologies, albeit non-digital, for prototyping ideas, creating layouts, and building models of ideas!

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