Project Description
After earning her CompTIA ITF+ certification—becoming the first female at DRL to achieve this milestone—Kaylena was eager to take on a new challenge and further enhance the efficiency of her lab. Recognizing her motivation and technical aptitude, Mr. Hall assigned her the task of diagnosing and repairing two non-functional 3D printers, trusting her to identify the issues and implement effective solutions.
Content: The top 3 things I learned from this showcase were:
A significant aspect of Kaylena’s learning journey was cultivating resourcefulness throughout her troubleshooting process. She began by consulting the manufacturers’ websites and reviewing the available online manuals, then broadened her search to other online resources. Ultimately, it was her collaboration with a student from another lab that played a crucial role in moving the project forward. Through this experience, Kaylena not only gained a deeper understanding of the 3D printer models but also identified an opportunity for improvement—designing and installing a custom 3D-printed spool holder extension to optimize the printers’ functionality.
Culture: This project relates or connects to my family, background, peers, community or my own personal interests in these ways:
Kaylena hails from a family with a strong tech background; both her uncle and grandfather have worked in the technology field. After participating in Butler Tech’s Sophomore Academy career exploration, which solidified her interest in IT and engineering, she decided to pursue a career in tech, focusing on IT. As she embarked on her program, her grandfather gifted her a high-quality set of tools, which she immediately put to use—most notably on this project.
Metacognition: In reflection, one thing that I would have done differently during my journey with this showcase is:
For Kaylena, the most challenging aspect of this project was determining how to get started. She needed to identify where to find answers and familiarize herself with each machine’s unique characteristics. Through this process, she developed a systematic approach to tackling challenges and learned how to effectively source the resources required to resolve them
Social/Emotional: One thing I am most proud of by completing this showcase is:
Looking back, Kaylena values the challenge of having to solve problems independently. The frustrations and dead ends she encountered pushed her to be resourceful, relying not only on her own ingenuity but also on the support of her peers. She takes pride in being recognized as the lab’s resident expert on 3D printers.
