Lia Report – Assistant Instructor for DDI at TSN

Student Goals

1. Remove barriers to learning 3D design. Blender is a free, full-featured 3D tool for modeling, sculpting, texturing and animation, yet most students never receive structured training. I will guide every learner through the full Blender workflow to build usable, practical 3D skills regardless of their prior tech experience.
2. Build students’ creative confidence. New learners often feel intimidated by complex software and fixate on “perfect” work. I will create a classroom culture that values finished projects over flawless results, encouraging free experimentation. Students will leave feeling capable of original 3D creation and open to creative careers like character design, 3D printing and digital scene building.
3. Link technical skills to personal expression. The course pairs Blender modeling with hand-drawn reference art in Krita, letting students design fully unique character avatars from their own interests. I will teach students that software is only a creative tool, and help them add personal personality to every model they make. Students will also learn real-world uses for their work, such as exporting models for physical 3D printing.

Personal Leadership Goals

1. Grow into an empathetic, flexible educator. I will respect different learning speeds, support students who struggle with spatial 3D thinking, and create a safe space for all students to ask questions without judgment. I will listen fully to each student’s creative vision and avoid pushing a single artistic standard.
2. Adapt teaching to match diverse learning needs. I will offer simplified step-by-step drills for total beginners, and extra creative challenges for fast learners. During daily free creation time, I will provide individual help and adjust my teaching pace based on class feedback.
3. Build a community-focused mindset. I will lead short conversations about how 3D art can support local communities, such as creating inclusive character designs and custom community-focused 3D assets. These discussions will strengthen my commitment to fair, accessible creative education for all young people.

Expected Outcomes

Student Outcomes

1. Each student will finish a complete personal 3D portfolio with all seven milestone files and a fully original animated NPC avatar as their final project. Their work will include printable props, low-poly character bases, hand-drawn reference art, textured clothed avatars, and rigged characters with custom animations. 
2. Students will master independent Blender skills they can use after the program, including software navigation, mesh creation, sculpting, UV mapping, material design, Krita reference drawing, character rigging, animation, and 3D print export.
3. Students will gain lasting creative confidence and ownership of their ideas. They will no longer view digital design tools as intimidating, and many will express interest in future creative learning opportunities.
4. Students will understand how their 3D skills can create positive real-world impact, including designing inclusive art and practicing ethical creation with open-source software.

Personal Outcomes

1. I will develop strong, flexible teaching skills, learning to break complex software workflows into simple steps and deliver encouraging feedback that preserves students’ unique creativity.
2. Working with students from varied backgrounds will deepen my understanding of equity and access in creative tech education, helping me identify and remove learning barriers for new creators.
3. I will become a more community-centered ethical leader, with a clearer personal mission to expand free creative tech opportunities for youth without access to these tools.
4. I will sharpen my one-on-one mentoring skills, learning to guide students through technical frustration and build a supportive, collaborative classroom community.