Utilization of Both Free 3DCG Software “Blender” and 3D Printing for Early STEM Education

For early STEM education in elementary and junior high schools, this paper proposes an effective two-sided teaching method based on software virtual simulation and real experiments, using free 3DCG (Three-Dimensional Computer Graphics) modeling design software such as “Blender”, and 3D printer that manufactures the objects designed by Blender. We consider that Blender is useful not only as a virtual simulator and visualization tool, but also a modeling design tool of object that we need in real experimentation. This paper also presents two examples of simulations by Blender for physics and computer algorithm education, in which one simulates for the movement of a horizontally thrown ball and another for well-known “Tower of Hanoi”. The programming of “Tower of Hanoi” requires the understanding of recursive procedure that is important mathematical thinking in programming. We consider that the utilization of Blender will be promising for the proposed two-sided method of STEM education.