Tech Play #4

I choose to explore Cubify Sculpt for this week’s tech play. I found out about this software through an email for an annual art contest that I participate in with my students. The contest is Scholastic Art and writing Contest.  Scholastics Art’s will introduce teachers to different software for free for the students to create and submit entries for the contest. A few years ago they had an entry for a video game using the software Gamestar.  I had never heard of the software, but at the time I taught an animation class and thought that it would be great experience.  We learned the software, and the entire class submitted, and we had gold medal winners.  This year they are providing for free the software Cubify Sculpt.  I was excited to finally see something that would work for my ceramics class.  So I thought that I would give it a try and see if it would be useful for my students.

My Findings on Cubify Sculpt:

The software is 3-D simulation software for modeling out of clay.  The software has a very easy interface for learning, and came with a couple of tutorial videos for getting started. The videos were very easy to understand and follow.  

I really like the software; it provides a very challenging creative process.  Unlike working from life the students really have to grasp the concept of 3-D, in the round.  When I was experimenting I found it to be difficult at first trying to manipulate the space, but after about a week of practicing I started to get the hang of it. The major challenge that it provides for the students is that they must go in with a plan.  Software like this provides the students with a 21 century challenge in technology, they have to think, learn, plan, try, try again, and finally create.  It takes the students through different levels of learning.  

To use this in the classroom, I would need to spend at least a week teaching the basics of the software. From there I would have them create step by step simulations so that they can get the hang of the software, and create something with an end result given. Then from there I would let them create on their own.  I think it is a great software that would interest and challenge students.  Our campus has a STEM pathway, so I could see a connection between this and the engineering pathway.