It can be difficult for teachers to capture the undivided attention of their students in the era of smartphones and gadgets.

However, teachers at Yunnan University Secondary School in Kunming, Yunnan province have come up with a new way to keep the kids engaged by saying only two words: 3-D pens.

The school tested out a new kind of art class on Sept 30 that allows kids to draw with 3-D pens.

Various vivid creations were brought to life with the 3-D technology on the day, including cats, hats, planes and even crocodiles.

“I have heard my classmates talk about 3-D printing and today I finally get a chance to feel it myself. It is quite interesting,” said Xiao Tong, who experienced the pens for the first time. She was very proud of her work — a pair of stereo glasses.

The students were first given a lecture on 3-D printing knowledge before getting their hands on the real 3-D printing tools.

Teachers posed various questions to the students such as “what is 3-D printing?” and received bold imaginative answers.

During the lecture, students were given general concepts of 3-D printing and an analysis of the technology from materials, features and application to deepen students’ understanding of the printing.

The teachers handed out pens, thermoplastic material and paper to the teenagers and reminded them not to touch the hot metal pen point to avoid being burned.

“Adjust the speed and hold on the button on the pen,” said the teachers, hoping to get through the day without casualties.

The group of teenagers later watched the working process of the 3-D printing machines and some brush pots, cartoon dolls and other toys printed by them.

The activity was co-hosted by Yunnan.cn and Yunnan University Secondary School and involved students writing the class experience into news.

Well written news and the best photography works will be published in Yunnan.cn. Before the practice class the activity’s sponsors had given lectures of news writing and news photography to the students.

Teachers tell students how to use the 3-D printing pens appropriately. [Photo/ynci.cn]

Students fully enjoy the 3-D technology lectures. [Photo/ynci.cn]