Makerspaces, conceptually, are built around communal, hands-on experiences where individuals learn by doing while learning from each other. How do you continue to teach transferable skills about design, making, and emerging technology when your learners don’t have access to your space, your resources, or your technologies in person? How to teach hands-on techniques such as lab courses online or remotely has long been a question of interest in the online education community.

The human brain is an incredibly complex 3D structure that is difficult to comprehend using only 2D images. However, visualizing the 3D structures of brain components and their spatial relationships is critical for understanding brain function and diagnosing neurological disorders. Students in Erika Fanselow’s neuroanatomy course tackle this by designing 3D models of multiple related brain structures based on measurements made from 2D images such as brain scans. In conjunction with Pitt’s Open Lab, students use web-based modeling software to develop and print their models. This project facilitates students’ conceptualization of brain structures and allows them to teach their peers.