Text vs. 3D Models: Comparing Traditional and 3D-Printed Learning Materials in Primary Science Education

Building on research highlighting the importance of touch and multisensory experiences in learning, this paper explores the development and educational potential of 3D-printed tactile models for primary science education, with a focus on celestial bodies. The models were created using open-source grayscale elevation maps of celestial bodies, which were processed through a custom computational pipeline to generate spherical surfaces and then 3D-printed in nylon.These tactile, three-dimensional models were introduced in a primary school classroom and evaluated in a comparative study against traditional text-based materials. Results indicate that students who interacted with the 3D models scored significantly higher on a quiz assessing their understanding of the relative sizes of celestial bodies, compared to peers who studied the same content through text. This suggests that tactile 3D models can enhance conceptual understanding, particularly in grasping spatial dimensions.Given the increasing availability of 3D printers in educational settings, this approach might hold potential as a complementary tool to traditional teaching strategies. Moreover, it may offer a more inclusive learning resource for students who cannot rely on visual input to the same extent as their peers.