Case Study Diocesan School for Girls

“I can see the difference and hear the excitement the 3D printers generate. That makes it totally rewarding. And at the business end, education being our business, it gives Diocesan that point of difference.”

– Merle Boniface, Director of Business and Planning Diocesan School for Girls

3D Printing

Diocesan School for Girls opened its doors to its first 27 pupils in 1904. Today, the School has approximately 1350 students, is recognised as one of the top schools in the country and is ranked as one of New Zealand’s major IT organisations.

Steeped in tradition, Diocesan is also a trailblazer. They embrace technology as part of their forward-facing momentum, alongside their ethics and leadership programmes. The school ensures their students have the digital literacy they need to succeed, personally and professionally, in a fast-changing world.

The Fab Lab

In 2014 Diocesan followed the lead of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and established a ‘Fab Lab’ creative space. As part of a global educational Fab Lab network, Diocesan puts cutting-edge technology for design and construction directly into the hands of their students. Using 3D printers, laser cutters and CAD applications, students can conceive and construct designs that were difficult and slow to develop using traditional methods.

Students from Year 6 onwards use 3D technology in the Fab Lab and in their DVC (Design Visual Communications), technology and media studies classes. Nearly every year level has a 3D

printing component in it, with the tasks becoming more challenging, and the learning curve greater, as students progress to Years 11-13. Projects range from sculptures, interior design, through to product modelling. One project sees students develop computer games, then turn the game characters into 3D models, as well as producing product packaging and the supporting marketing strategies.

Students learn how to solve the problems of creating a workable file which turns their concept into a viable model.

Having their own 3D printers means students can be a part of the whole manufacturing lifecycle from design, print and post-production. This extends the value the students get out of the technology and increases their opportunity to experiment.

Expecting the best

Shannon Nelson, Diocesan’s Head of Faculty - Digital Design, is passionate about the value of the Fab Lab and its technologies. “We can find knowledge anywhere,” she says, “but understanding is a very different thing. The ability to apply knowledge and solve problems in the Fab Lab is integral to modern understanding in the subjects that we teach.”

Merle Boniface, Diocesan’s Director of Business and Planning, says their Fab Lab is a natural addition to their overall educational proposition. It’s also an initiative which meets the expectations that parents have of what makes Diocesan stand out from the crowd.

Simply fab

The School’s initial investment in entry level 3D printers was an experiment. The students’ rapid uptake and fascination with the devices proved their unquestionable value to the Fab Lab. Unfortunately, this came with equal levels of frustration with exceedingly slow output and the heartbreak, after such a long wait, of numerous failed projects. Due to the limited capabilities of the devices, students were unable to undertake projects which challenged their design skills.

Fuji Xerox New Zealand then entered the market and Diocesan turned to them to provide professional quality devices from their 3D Systems range - the ProJet 660Pro, ProJet 1000 and ProJet 1200. Undeniably taking pride of place in the Fab Lab though is the remarkable 3D Systems ProJet 660Pro which, according to the Diocesan team, is the one that makes the girls go ‘whooo!’

The 660Pro is part of an elite 3D Systems range that can create full, photo-realistic colour 3D prints. Students produce high resolution prototypes in the exact colours they specify. And even better, by stacking and nesting the designs, the 660Pro produces a full class of students’ models in one print run, and does so overnight. It produces models that can be sanded, drilled, tapped and electroplated, or with high temperature resistance for use in moulding.

Samantha Langatuki, Diocesan’s TIC DVC/Graphics, says it’s critical to expose students to 3D technology. “It’s going to be the way of the future for them. It’s going to change product design and manufacturing, it’s going to be huge. Exposure to it now will give them a considerable advantage in the workplace.”

The Fuji Xerox difference

The School chose Fuji Xerox’s leasing option for their 3D devices. This allows the School to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change, which is critical for their students as they move to the next stage of their education or career.

Fuji Xerox also provides the School with a highly-trained and specialist 3D engineer. After struggling with the set up and support for some of their other technology investments, the Diocesan team were delighted to work with “an engineer who actually knew the machines” and echoed their own level of passion. The on-the-ground support from Fuji Xerox was a welcome relief for the School and the focus changed from keeping their 3D devices running, to enjoying the capabilities. “Now that the production side is sorted we’re able to focus on creation,” says Nelson. “We don’t have to worry about failed builds, or 25 girls simultaneously printing out tasks. They come in the next morning and it’s there, rather than waiting for days and hoping it’s come out right.”

Diocesan’s relationship with Fuji Xerox has been in place for well over a decade now. The School requires a full, and highly competitive, procurement exercise for the supply of office devices at the end of every contract date. Fuji Xerox’s contract has been renewed each time. Boniface says this is due to competitive pricing, superb services levels and because they are a partner, not just a

supplier. This partnership is reinforced by the active stance Fuji Xerox takes in the education system, supporting local school programmes that help and inspire young people to reach their potential.

The future

As a proudly pioneering school developing their own project concepts, Diocesan sets the benchmark in New Zealand for other schools to follow. While others have Fab Labs as part of their technology workshops, Diocesan’s standalone model, backed by training, support and a tailored lease solution from Fuji Xerox New Zealand, makes it accessible to all faculties and students.

Boniface says, “I can see the difference and hear the excitement the 3D printers generate. That makes it totally rewarding. And at the business end, education being our business, it gives Diocesan that point of difference.”

Xerox, Xerox and Design, as well as Fuji Xerox and Design are registered trademarks or trademarks of Xerox Corporation in Japan and/or other countries and are used under license.