Beverly Owen's Thoughts on the MakerBot Sketch Classroom: Educator Spotlight

"I started using the SKETCH Classroom five months ago, and kept them running all day, every day. These printers are workhorses – hundreds of hours later, they are still consistently printing without issue." – Beverly Owen

What Is the MakerBot Sketch Classroom?

For example, the MakerBot Sketch Classroom bundle is a complete 3D printing package built for schools. It includes 2 enclosed Sketch printers, 6 spools of MakerBot PLA filament, 4 flexible build plates, 2 spatulas, 2 pairs of snips, 2 teacher certification licences, and 10 student certification licences. Each Sketch printer has an enclosed build chamber measuring 150 × 150 × 150 mm, suitable for classroom models, prototypes, and most student projects. Layer resolution ranges from 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm. The bundle covers everything a school needs from day one.

Beverly came to the Sketch Classroom with no prior 3D printing experience. A structured certification programme took her from complete beginner to confident classroom operator in weeks. That learning track is what separates this bundle from buying a printer alone.

Getting Started: The MakerBot Certification Programme

Building on the hardware, the certification programme is where Beverly's confidence grew fastest. It has 2 levels: Operator and Curriculum Creator. Teachers and students access both levels. The programme is ISTE certified and includes over 600 STEAM and STEM-aligned lesson plans organised by grade level and subject area, so there is no shortage of ready-made curriculum to work with from day one.

"As a teacher, I had access to two levels of training from the MakerBot Certification program: Operator and Curriculum Creator. The Operator course walked me through the basics of 3D printing. But the great thing is, my students also had access to this course!" – Beverly Owen

Curriculum Creator, the second level, adds a teaching layer. It covers how to introduce 3D printing to students, how to use Thingiverse resources in lesson plans, and how to integrate design projects into your curriculum. Beverly had not expected the TinkerCAD component to change how she saw her own design skills:

"I have never been good at using CAD software, and I certainly never considered myself a 'designer.' I was resigned to the fact that all I would ever be able to do was download files to print from Thingiverse. However, this is one of the main parts of the Sketch Classroom offering that is empowering. Through the certification process, I learned how to design things using TinkerCAD, and I was challenged to complete the tutorials demonstrating this skill." – Beverly Owen

This matters for any teacher hesitant about 3D printing. Certification removes the technical barrier before your printers arrive.

Setting Up the MakerBot Sketch Classroom Bundle

This means setup is the first real test of any classroom printer. Beverly's assessment was clear:

"The Sketch Classroom printers were amazingly simple to set up. The printer was well-packaged, and after removing a few pieces of packaging material and tape, the printer was ready to go! As I opened the packaging, the tools, build plates, and filament were toward the top of the packaging, and nestled underneath was the printer. Each printer comes with two large spools and one small spool of PLA – both sizes of filament can be housed in an external compartment on the side of the printer." – Beverly Owen

From unboxing to first print requires no technical knowledge. Each printer stores sample files in its internal memory, so you can run a test print straight away to confirm everything is working.

Printing Options and Remote Monitoring

Additionally, the Sketch Classroom supports 3 printing methods: USB flash drive, Wi-Fi via MakerBot CloudPrint (now part of UltiMaker Digital Factory), and direct connection via MakerBot Print software.

"Another amazing feature that is available is MakerBot CloudPrint. Through this cloud-based tool, you can print to your Sketch using wifi. If I need to check on a print in the evening, sometimes I will log in to CloudPrint and check the print status while doing tasks around the house, even while I'm cooking dinner!" – Beverly Owen

Built-in cameras on each printer allow remote monitoring from any Wi-Fi connected device. You can watch print progress from a different room or a completely separate location. For after-school programmes or longer print runs, this removes the need to physically check the machines throughout the day.

One practical detail worth noting: once a file is sent to the printer, even via CloudPrint, the Sketch copies it to internal memory. You can remove the USB stick and prepare your next file while the current print is still running. A typical student-scale model prints in 2 to 3 hours depending on size and infill settings.

The Control Panel: Simple Enough for Any Student

Beyond file management, the control panel keeps operation simple. A touch screen with intuitive symbols and directional prompts handles everything from loading filament to starting prints. Beverly's 4-year-old daughter started selecting files and starting prints with no instruction at all.

"The Sketch printers have a touch screen control panel, and the symbols and directional features provided are very intuitive. My four-year-old daughter loves to select files and start prints for me. It's just that easy." – Beverly Owen

With middle school students one year and Year 11 classes the next, the Sketch Classroom bundle required no changes to how the printer operates across either age group.

"I've used the MakerBot certification with middle school students and will be using it again this year with my 11th graders. The Sketch printer is easy to use and has great functionality. If you're looking for an affordable 3D printer option, the Sketch Classroom program is perfect – two printers, filament, tools, as well as certification access. You can't beat that!" – Beverly Owen

Beverly's Practical Tips for Teachers

That said, daily use taught lessons that no manual covers. Here are Beverly's tips for teachers starting out with the Sketch Classroom:

• Filament runs out mid-print? Beverly's fix: "When this occurred, I told the printer to continue running the filament, through 'load filament.' This ensured that the remainder of the filament in the nozzle would extrude to prevent it from jamming the extruder. Then, I loaded the new filament." – Beverly Owen. The print can often continue without issue.

• Print stuck to the build plate? "The build plate has great adhesion! If your print gets stuck on the build plate, you can flex the build plate – it bends! As a secondary measure, you can use the spatula that is included to lift the corner of your print." – Beverly Owen

• Always print with a raft. Beverly's advice is direct: "Use a raft when printing – they remove really easily." Rafts improve bed adhesion and make finished prints easier to separate cleanly.

Designing in TinkerCAD: From Student Drawings to Finished Prints

Similarly, the TinkerCAD skills Beverly learned through certification went straight into her science classroom. She designed a honeycomb desk organiser with different-height compartments for coloured pencils, glue sticks, and sticky notes. After printing it, she uploaded the file to Thingiverse so other teachers could use it too.

She also taught students how to convert 2D drawings into 3D-printable files. Her 4-year-old daughter's Mickey Mouse drawing became a Christmas ornament: Beverly photographed it, removed the background, converted it to an SVG file, imported it into TinkerCAD, and printed 2 versions, one raised and one pressed in as a mould.

"Can you imagine 3 dimensionally printing out a child's drawings? Or what about printing a 3D model of a 2D drawing that one of your students had created? The possibilities are limitless!" – Beverly Owen

That whole workflow is documented in a 9-minute, 35-second video she created for her students, covering everything from first setup to a finished print:

Closing Thoughts: "Empowering"

Beyond her individual tips, Beverly's overall verdict on the bundle is precise:

"Empowering. That term perfectly describes the MakerBot Sketch Classroom program. Whether you are new to 3D printing, a veteran MakerBot guru, or someone who just wants to enhance their printing skills, the SKETCH Classroom was designed for you." – Beverly Owen

Australian schools starting a 3D printer for schools programme will find this review covers the full picture: setup, daily use, curriculum integration, and practical tips. The Sketch Classroom programme runs in schools worldwide. Calcasieu Parish School Board deployed 400 Sketch printers across 55 schools, reaching 25,000 students in the USA alone. The MakerBot Sketch Classroom bundle suits exactly this environment.

Looking for the latest additions to the Sketch range? See the MakerBot Sketch Sprint classroom launch and the MakerBot Sketch Large announcement.

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FAQ: MakerBot Sketch Classroom

For example, here are the questions Australian teachers and IT coordinators ask most often about the Sketch Classroom.

Is the MakerBot Sketch Classroom suitable for teachers with no 3D printing experience?

Yes. The bundle includes the MakerBot Certification programme, which walks teachers through printer operation, TinkerCAD design, and curriculum integration. Beverly Owen completed the full certification with no prior 3D printing experience and was running student lessons within weeks.

What is included in the MakerBot Sketch Classroom bundle?

The MakerBot Sketch Classroom bundle includes 2 MakerBot Sketch 3D printers, PLA filament (2 large spools and 1 small spool per printer), tools, build plates, and access to the MakerBot Certification programme for both teachers and students. You need nothing else to get started.

Can students submit print files without creating an account?

Yes. The UltiMaker Digital Factory print submission feature lets teachers generate a secure link that students use to upload STL files directly. Students need no Digital Factory account. Submissions appear in the teacher's dashboard for review before going to the print queue. This works on Chromebooks and Google Classroom setups.

What filament does the MakerBot Sketch Classroom use?

PLA filament powers the Sketch Classroom. MakerBot PLA is NIOSH certified for classroom safety, which is uncommon among 3D printing materials. Each printer is fully enclosed and includes a particulate air filter for additional protection. PLA extrudes at around 200°C and needs no heated bed, making it a safe choice for any classroom environment.

How does remote print monitoring work on the MakerBot Sketch?

Each MakerBot Sketch printer includes a built-in camera accessible through UltiMaker Digital Factory. Teachers can view live print progress from any Wi-Fi connected device. Owen used this to check overnight prints and after-school club runs without being present in the room.

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Ready to bring 3D printing into your classroom? View the MakerBot Sketch Classroom bundle or request a quote for school pricing.

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3D Printer 3D Printers Education Higher education printing MakerBot Sketch MakerBot Sketch Classroom Bundle MakerBot Sketch Large MakerBot Sketch Sprint Primary Education Printing