2. 3D Printing

3D printing is a complex emerging technology inaccessible to most people in 2013, but 2014-15 might just be the year for them in the classroom. There is a lot of buzz about this incredible printer that can make 3 dimensional solid objects. They will make fabulous learning tools for the classroom, allowing educators and students to create whatever they image and design from 3D topographical maps to parts for a robot.
 Don’t be surprised if the oh so sought after 3D printers started popping up in schools all over the country this year. They make incredible learning tools with endless possibilities as to what they can create.

I would certainly love the opportunity in implementing a 3-D printer in my classroom, I would get students to print 3-D replicas of Network Topologies they would create of typical buildings.  A 3-D view would help reinforce the appropriate way of how a building needs to be cabled and networked. I am looking forward to the day I can utilize this new technology in the classroom,  unfortunately there is a dark side to 3-D printers ,for example;
1. 3D printers are energy hogs:

When melting plastic with heat or lasers, 3D printers consume about 50 to 100 times more electrical energy than injection molding to make an item of the same weight.
2. Unhealthy air emissions:3D printers may pose a health risk when used in the home. The emissions from desktop 3D printers are similar to burning a cigarette or cooking on a gas or electric stove.
3. Reliance on Plastics: Self explanatory - Unhealthy to the environment.

Here is a video describing how a 3-D Printer functions:

Airfold3D.(2014,January 3).Teachers Build 3D Printers for the classroom.Retrieved September 29,2014,from Airfold3D.com:http://www.airfold3d.com/2014/01/03/teachers-build-3d-printers-for-the-classroom/

gilpin,L(2014,March 5).The Dark Side of 3D Printing -10 Things to Watch.Retrieved September 29,2014,from Techrepublic.com:http://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-dark-side-of-3d-printing-10-things-to-watch/

Steed,D.(2013,June 13).3D Printing in the Classroom.Retrieved September 29,2014,from Youtube.com:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urjIMfxfxs8