The Media Commons has 2 Cameo Silhouette Vinyl Cutters for anyone to use for individual or classroom use. There is a vinyl cutting station with supplies set up in the Media Commons Office.
The vinyl cutter can use vector file information from a variety of programs, such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, and Inkscape. The vinyl cutter also requires a path to cut. Most of these programs have a path, expand, or trace option.
A vinyl cutter will teach students product marketing and computer design skills. When students have an authentic task and audience with whom to share their work, the quality and effort improve immensely. Having a vinyl cutter will allow students to develop professional-level branding for their design.
A vinyl cutter will help instill confidence in students as they conquer the challenges necessary to think creatively, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes.
Classroom Examples
Design Thinking Elective: Students designed their own vinyl decal for a water bottle. Students can design using any design program such as Photoshop, Illustrator or Silhouette Studio. You an also upload any .jpg image to edit or print from. The Silhouette Studio software is loaded on all the computers in the Media Commons, but to print to it, you need to use the iMac that the vinyl cutter is attached to.
Language Class: Incorporate STEAM into your curriculum by having students learn the basic features in design software and create an image representing the culture they are studying or a word. Have them display their work by decorating their glass door or wall.
Software:
Inkscape, Silhouette Studio, Adobe Illustrator
Objectives: Students learn the basic features of design software to create and produce a 3D graphic vinyl adhesive.
Come see me if you have any questions or would like to know how to incorporate a design project using the Vinyl Cutter into a lesson. -A. Kolovitz
Comments