3D Printing Revolution Syllabus

Course Description

3D printing is exploding in popularity. Many people believe it will revolutionize our economy in many ways. In the coming years, 3D printing will change the way we live and alter the relation between firms and customers. In this course, we will explore this technology and examine its revolutionary impact. You will learn how 3D printers work, the type of things they can make, and how you can use this technology as an entrepreneur, business person, and consumer. We'll employ a variety of learning techniques, including video lectures, case studies, and interviews with 3D printing experts. Our learning approach will be highly interactive; you will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on activities and imagine a 3D printable object that you can make. I hope you will join us in this exploration.

Course Goals and Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

Obtain a rich understanding of 3D printing, including how it works and what you can make.
Explain the revolutionary advantages of 3D printing and the exciting future of this technology.
Examine several real-world examples and interviews by experts in the field to see 3D printing in action.
Obtain free digital designs that you can turn into 3D printed objects.

Textbook and Readings

There is no required textbook used in this course. We suggest 3D Printing Will Rock the World by John Hornick (2015), but it is not required for this course.

Course Outline

This course consists of two modules that focus on the revolution that has come from 3D printing technology.

Module 1: What Is 3D Printing?

Key Concepts:

3D Printing Insights
History of 3D Printing
How 3D Printing Works
3D Printing Software and Hardware
3D Printing Materials, Designs, and Applications

Module 2: Why Is It Revolutionary?

Key Concepts:

Why 3D Printing is Special
How 3D Printing Will Change Business
The Future of 3D Printing
Revolutionary Insights

Elements of This Course

The course is comprised of the following elements:

Lecture Videos. In each module the concepts you need to know will be presented through a collection of short video lectures. You may stream these videos for playback within your browser by clicking on their titles or by downloading the videos. You may also download the slides that go along with the videos.
In-Video Questions . Some lecture videos have questions associated with them to help verify your understanding of the topics. These questions will automatically appear while watching the video if you stream the video through your browser. These questions do not contribute toward your final score in the class.
Practice Quizzes. Each module will include 1 practice quiz, intended for you to assess your understanding of the topics. You will be allowed unlimited attempts at each practice quiz. Each attempt may present a different selection of questions to you. There is no time limit on how long you take to complete each attempt at the quiz. These quizzes do not contribute toward your final score in the class.
Module Quizzes . Each module will include 1 for-credit quiz. You will be allowed 3 attempts per every 8 hours at each quiz. There is no time limit on how long you take to complete each attempt at the quiz. Each attempt may present a different selection of questions to you. Your highest score will be used when calculating your final score in the class.
Peer Reviewed Assignments. Each module will include 1 peer reviewed exercise. You can attempt these assignments multiple times. Your highest score will be used when calculating your final score in the class.

How to Pass This Course

To qualify for a Course Certificate, simply start verifying your coursework at the beginning of the course and pay the fee. Coursera Financial Aid is available to offset the registration cost for learners with demonstrated economic needs. If you have questions about Course Certificates, please see the help topics here .

If you choose not to pay the fee , you can still audit the course. You will still be able to view all videos, submit practice quizzes, and view required assessments. Auditing does not include the option to submit required assessments. As such, you will not be able to earn a grade or a Course Certificate.

The following table explains the breakdown for what is required in order to pass the class and qualify for a Course Certificate. You must pass each and every required activity in order to pass this course.

Activity	Required?	Number per module	Estimated time per module	% required to pass
Lecture Videos	Yes	10–15	2 hours	N/A
Practice Quizzes	No	1	0.25 hours	N/A
Module Quizzes	Yes	1	0.5 hours	80%
Peer Reviewed Assignments	Yes	1	1 hour	70%

Getting and Giving Help

You can get/give help via the following means:

Use the Learner Help Center to find information regarding specific technical problems. For example, technical problems would include error messages, difficulty submitting assignments, or problems with video playback. If you cannot find an answer in the documentation, you can also report your problem to the Coursera staff by clicking on the Contact Us! link available on each topic's page within the Learner Help Center.
Use the Course Suggestions forum to report errors in lecture video content, assignment questions and answers, assignment grading, text and links on course pages, or the content of other course materials. University of Illinois staff and Community Mentors will monitor this forum and respond to issues.

Note: Due to the large number of learners enrolled in this course, I am not able to answer emails sent directly to my account. Rather, all questions should be reported as described above.