St. Stephen’s Chinese Language Leader Shares 3D Printed Mooncake Project with Educators at the National Chinese Language Conference

Hai Zheng Olefsky, Associate Director of the St. Stephen’s International Program and Coordinator of Chinese Language Studies, recently served as a guest speaker at the prestigious National Chinese Language Conference in Mountain View, California. Zheng Olefsky spoke about 3D printed mooncakes, an innovative, hands-on classroom project that guides students through a combination of Chinese culture and cutting-edge technology. 

Zheng Olefsky’s presentation, delivered to a room full of around 400 international educators, was part of the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS) Swap Shop session titled "The Future Speaks Mandarin: A Journey into Cutting-edge Chinese Language Education.”

Mooncakes are a traditional Chinese bakery product typically eaten and shared among family and friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival. Zheng Olefsky wanted to replicate the tasty treat but also incorporate key educational components at St. Stephen’s, the Chinese language, STEM and culture. Instead of using a bakery, her Upper School Chinese language students used 3D printers to make and bake their colorful rendition of the mooncake in the school’s makerspace also known as the PIRL (Project and Idea Realization Lab).

“I’m always looking for ways to be active in my field,” said Zheng Olefsky. “And this exciting opportunity allowed me to proudly represent SSES for the first time in this major national Chinese conference.”

During her presentation, Zheng Olefsky shared the importance of internal collaboration as this annual student project is made possible by intentional engagement with the PIRL’s Director Nicole Wortham, who originally helped Zheng Olefsky launch the idea.

Zheng Olefsky also explained that traditional celebration needs transformation and that her goal behind developing the project was to weave together the PIRL, technology and innovation with an ancient language that has rich history and culture.

“3D printing is a new way to present these old traditions in a new light,” said Zheng Olefsky, who is also the current Master Teaching Chair in Critical Language.

Using geometry and other math principles, the students start by using the Tinkercad computer application to digitally design their mooncake shape on a 3D plane. Next, they use a scribble tool to draw Chinese characters and add any desired artwork to the mooncake surface. Students also select the overall color from a variety of options In the past, students have created intricate border designs and incorporated the St. Stephen’s Spartan mascot head. Once printed, the students have something tangible and meaningful to take home.

Beyond creating a beautiful piece of modern and ancient art, her Chinese students who have underutilized the PIRL or never used a 3D printer gain new knowledge and experiences.

Zheng Olefsky says every year students tell her how much they loved the “cool” project, which she says is student-centered and full of discovery and exploratory learning. She is looking forward to engaging in the project with her students this September, which is the month of the Moon Festival. She hopes other teachers who heard her speak at the conference will be inspired to start this new tradition with their students.