RAPID CITY, S.D./January 16, 2023 – B9Creations launched a K–12 education division with tailored service and technology offerings, built on a longstanding history of being in the higher education and research market with technology in over 60 universities around the world. And now, B9Creations is partnering with Rapid City Area Schools (RCAS) to create a path for STEM education opportunities available to the nearly 14,000 students in the area as part of a new education initiative piloted at several schools in the district.
Rapid City Area Schools, formally Rapid City Area School District 51-4, is a public school district serving Rapid City, South Dakota that is committed to building tomorrow’s community through inspiration, innovation, and excellence.
By bringing in B9Creations’ 3D printing technology, RCAS plans to provide comprehensive STEM education that enables experimental, inquiry-based experiences, while creating a fun, hands-on learning environment, empowering innovation and creativity, improving and exercising problem-solving skills, and helping students develop and prepare for post-graduation plans.
According to Rapid City Area Schools, “Career and Technical Education (CTE) maximizes student learning with real‐world knowledge and skills. Students are provided with challenging academic and technical content, that fosters strong relationships with industry and higher education. CTE courses fulfill high school graduation requirements, allow students to develop leadership skills, earn industry certifications, and dual credit in their fields of interest.”
“Our goal is to provide students with the necessary skillsets for future careers. We have several stations set up in the classroom, and at the 3D printing and CAD stations, we have lists of potential careers posted so the kids are able to understand how the skills they’re developing in the classroom can be applied in future careers,” said Greg Gramberg, technology education teacher at RCAS.
“Without early career exposure, students can struggle to align their talents with a vocational path or go deep into debt figuring it out. The world is changing at breakneck speed, and our students’ competition after graduation is global. With the job market changing just as fast, many of the careers of tomorrow can’t be conceived of today – which is why Career and Technical Education and exposure to future-proof careers in industries that are on the cusp of critical mass is so important,” said B9Creations CEO Shon Anderson.
Rapid City Area Schools now have five B9 Core Series 3D printers that will be incorporated into the district’s CTE curriculum – two B9 Core 550 3D printers, two B9 Core 5 Series XL – 405 3D printers, and one B9 Core 5 Series XL – 385 3D printer. In addition, each school will have its own B9Clean XL and Model Cure XL post-processing units, as well as a range of specialty materials including B9Creations’ HD Clear resin, ideal for high-precision parts that require translucency, and its Resilient – Silicone resin, an elastomeric material ideal for parts that need to withstand flexing, compression, and bending.
