3d printer tutorial in vr

In 2020, our plan to build a mobile makerspace changed due to the pandemic. As a Maker Fellow, I led a team in designing educational content and pitching a prototype to SCC for funding. Our work secured funding for a new makerspace, which opened in Spring 2023 on campus.

Setting the Scene. Imagine you are a student at Sacramento City College and you walk into the brand new makerspace on campus. You see a wall full of 3D printers, and you’re feeling a little intimidated. A student staff member approaches and asks if you’re interested in learning how to use a 3D printer. Then they ask if you’re familiar with VR.

You say you’re interested and you’ve only played with VR once before. They say, no problem, our very own student workers have designed a virtual 3D printer tutorial, they say it’s a fun, gamified way to get introduced to 3D printing. You are excited and feel less intimidated and agree to try the tutorial. Below is a storyboard of the user’s journey.