I'm an elementay school tacher, eaching ICT (Information Communication Technology) to 10 and 11-year-old students at a public school near Lisbon. I'm also the school tech guy, in charge of digital systems and the web. Beyond that, I'm also involved in teacher training, spreading the good news on coding, robotics, 3D modeling and printing to teachers around the country.
Together with our librarian Jacqueline, I've created Tap@rts，a small makerspace（创客空间）at my school library (one of the first library 3D printing spaces in Portugal), open to any student of the school. And my interest in Maker culture is in its educational dimension. So what do I actually make? Spark my students' interest in 3D, coding, robotics and electronics, and offer them opportunities to freely experiment with technologies in our school science club.
Well, I was an arts teacher who really loved to learn how to do stuff with 3D but never had the chance to be taught. So I learned by myself. That was about 15 years ago. At that time, laptop computers were starting to be used in my school. And I've decided to bring them into my arts class, figuring that 3D modeling was as valid for children in arts a drawing or painting. Then, in 2014, something wonderful happened: Portugal had its first Maker Fair, and to my great surprise, my then 3D modeling in arts and ICT was one of the accepted projects. That's also when I've got started with 3D printing. And the main goal is to spark kids' interest in using technology as a creative tool.
