To learn 3D model normals for a school project, start with free software like Blender and tutorials that explain how normals control surface lighting and shading.
Normals are invisible vectors defining a 3D face’s direction—key for realistic lighting. Try small exercises: flip normals on a cube or smooth a sphere to see how they change your model’s look.
For your project, use Blender’s normal editing tools and follow step-by-step guides (e.g., Blender Guru, YouTube) focused on your specific work (e.g., character, product, environment).
Once comfortable, test normals by rendering with different lights—if parts look dark/glitchy, fix flipped normals using the “show normals” feature (a common beginner fix).