The Power of Project-Based Learning

"The challenge for education systems is to prepare students for careers that may not yet exist."

STEM Learning Ecosystem’s recent article suggests that Project-Based Learning (PBL) is the solution to this problem. And we agree! Having a Glowforge laser in your classroom opens up a world of project-based learning opportunities that’ll prepare your students for real-world challenges — even the ones you can’t predict yet.

5 Reasons Glowforge is the Ultimate PBL Partner:

1. Enhance Hands-On Learning:

• Glowforge enables students to bring their ideas to life, transforming theoretical lessons into tangible projects. With a Glowforge laser, any lesson plan becomes an engaging, creative, and innovative learning experience.
• Across all 50 states, students design and laser cut intricate art pieces or engineering prototypes, turning abstract concepts into real-life creations they can see, touch, and improve upon.

2. Foster Real-World Skills:

• Having Glowforge in the classroom helps students cultivate skills they’ll use forever: design thinking, problem-solving, manufacturing, collaboration, and critical thinking (just to name a few).
• These aren’t just classroom skills, they’re valuable in any career. Glowforge helps bridge the gap between education and industry, preparing students for an ever-evolving job market.

3. Engage and Motivate Students:

• These aren’t your average classroom projects. Glowforge has something every student can get excited about: compatibility with hundreds of materials, robust design tools, and the fact that it’s a real-life laser they get to use at school!
• With Glowforge, students are more likely to take initiative and show enthusiasm for their work, leading to a more interactive and engaged classroom experience.

4. Foster Innovation:

• Glowforge is an incredible tool across STEAM disciplines and beyond! From creating scientific models and architectural prototypes to producing art installations and historical artifacts, the possibilities are endless.
• We’ve seen districts use their Glowforge in makerspaces, science classes, art studios, even libraries. This cross-disciplinary potential makes it easy to integrate Glowforge into every aspect of your curriculum.

5. Promote Iterative Learning

• With Glowforge, students can quickly prototype, print, and improve upon their designs, promoting a growth mindset and building resilience as they learn from mistakes and refine their projects.
• This iterative process encourages deeper learning and a better understanding of the subject matter, as students engage in continuous improvement.

Projects by Teachers, for Teachers

Glowforge offers a whole suite of standards-aligned lesson plans that you can use right away. Made by educators like you, these plans are ready to use, save you valuable preparation time, and ensure that your projects meet educational standards.

We even offer a set of projects specifically designed for Career Technical Education (CTE) tracks.

Explore Lesson Plans