Fun with Lasers in the Classroom Using xTool

When I was growing up, lasers were devices that you could only see in sci-fi movies or cartoons. Lasers were inventions from the distant future. It turns out that the distant future was not so distant! Lasers are now a part of everything from construction sites to medical procedures! We are able to have fun with lasers and give students a safe and hands-on way to learn STEM in the classroom.

I introduced myself to xTool and learned that they are the industry-leading brand for laser cutters and engravers. I learned that their  products were designed to fit any classroom project, meeting the needs of educators and students alike. Every product package comes with hundreds of free tutorials, a library of projects, and a free downloadable software that students can use to design and create with ease. It is amazing to see the capabilities of these machines and how they can engage students in STEM. Here are some of the ways that xTool can address the important aspects of STEM learning in the classroom:

• Real-world skills: Designing and measuring
•  Critical thinking skills: Fosters critical thinking through the creative design process
• Hands-on learning: Allows students to demonstrate their understanding of a topic

xTool applications

As a core subject teacher, do you ever think, “How does this apply to me?” Luckily, xTool products are not only used just for STEM classes or makerspaces, but for so much more! Let’s get our students engaged and make connections to these products, core classes, and CTE skills.

Math teachers can have their students have fun with lasers by measuring, designing and cutting out different shapes as well as having students visualize mathematical concepts. Social studies teachers can have students create replicas of historical artifacts to allow for a deeper understanding of history. Science teachers can have students replicate lab equipment and create visual aids for experiments. Lastly, English language arts teachers can utilize xTool to design, cut, and customize bookends, bookmarks, story and drama props, as well as creations for visual storytelling. Again, these are all great projects that allow students to demonstrate their learning in a fun and engaging way.

xTool’s Creative Space allows users to create from scratch right on its platform! You can also easily create designs outside of the platform and then upload them online to Creative Space. It’s extremely easy to do, as converting any created image to an .svg file will make it that much simpler.

Creating a pyramid puzzle project

Let’s get our students engaged and make connections to these products, core classes and real world skills. As a former social studies teacher, I wanted to recreate a project I did with my students.

Students were tasked with researching a specific artifact from one of the ancient civilizations we studied and then had to present it to the class. To utilize xTool’s laser cutter, I imported an image of the Great Pyramid of Giza to xTool’s Creative Space, then overlaid a puzzle template on the image. The xTool engraved the image of the Great Pyramid and then began to laser cut the image into puzzle pieces. The students could now put together the puzzle while learning about the pyramids of ancient Egypt! This is a fun little project that will come out amazing, and the students will have fun making it.

Lasers are a thing of the future, and that future is now. This technology has been brought into today’s classrooms to engage students in building many necessary skills. Some of these skills even apply to CTE, as students can use what they’ve learned to prepare to enter the workforce. For more on how to get started with xTool in the classroom, check out our accompanying OTIS course, Fun Time with Lasers.

For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more content on the Teq Talk blog or our YouTube channels OTIS for educators and Tequipment.

We also offer virtual professional development, training, and support with OTIS for educators. Explore the technology and strategies that spark student success — no matter where teaching or learning are happening!

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