Prototyping weapons in the Makerlab

[lizett...@presidioknolls.org]

Hi Friends,

I'd love to hear from your experience on designing/building/prototyping weapons (especially guns) in a Maker Space and I'm curious about the conversation, if any, you have/had with your students about it.

This is a summary of my experience so far (K-8):

- during free choice time, some students have built quick prototypes of guns with cardboard and lie about it when you ask them what they are doing

- sometimes if I noticed kids are making them, I stop them and ask them to pack it and do it at home, not in our maker space

- other times, I've had a brief conversation about the damage guns do to a human body (depending on the students ages)

- my initial reaction is to say "No!" with emphasis and stop the conversation there, but I think it's my responsibility to go deeper thus asking you all for your thoughts

- I've thought about running a "Medieval Weapons" unit so that kids get to make those things without judgement while we talk about history etc, but that still doesn't address guns 

- we do make helmets, swords, crossbows, shields from time to time especially around Halloween

- I can see the fascination with the mechanics of it, so we can discuss and approach them from that point of view since many kids have Nerf guns or play video games (?)(simple machines)

- also wondering how to explain this visceral reaction to guns vs. swords or knives

So much to ponder.

Thanks for your feedback,

Lizette

[Mark Loundy]

We’re a K-5 school in a K-8 district with zero tolerance for weapons. Students may not make real, fictional, or simulated weapons. Even during free build times, students have to declare what they are working on. The adult in charge has the absolute authority to declare a project off-limits.

Mark Loundy (He, Him, His)

Instructional Technology Specialist
Google Certified Educator
Ignited Fellow x 5
Silicon Valley

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[Katie Topper]

i have zero tolerance as well. in fact, i also don’t let students print swords either. because i teach mostly middle school, i do not trust they would be able to differentiate why a sword would be ok but not, for example, a switchblade or a nunchuck (sp?!).  i also do not let students design and print nerf guns for this same reason.  

i am glad you brought this up because just yesterday i noticed a student had remixed a project - a wheelchair- from another user on tinkercad. when i explored this other user’s (not one of my students nor anyone i know) designs, i noticed they had designed a lot of guns. i was not happy about the thought of my students seeing all these designs online and thinking of the possibilities of printing them, and was going to write tinkercad/autodesk about it. 

katie topper

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[Mark Loundy]

Katie,

Autodesk would not have any standing in this. Our policy stems from our school district. Unless the former student was using a school account or creating something illegal, I suggest that you also have no standing in reporting the student’s designs.

Mark Loundy (He, Him, His)

Instructional Technology Specialist 

Google Certified Educator

Ignited Fellow

Silicon Valley

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From: Katie Topper <katie....@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 10:17:12 PM
To: Mark Loundy <mark....@gmail.com>
Cc: lizett...@presidioknolls.org <lizett...@presidioknolls.org>; Bay Area Maker Educators <bay-area-mak...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Re: [bay-area-maker-educators] Prototyping weapons in the Makerlab

 

[Katie Topper]

I was not planning on reporting the user, but a strong suggestion that Tinkercad, which caters to younger learners and an educational experience, keep this in mind for its Classroom experience. Our 3rd graders are using tinkercad these days, and I would not want to be on the receiving end of a parent phone call when their child starts discovering these ready-made models.

katie