Circuit Playground Express

Final video:

Reflection questions:

• Using a Circuit Playground Express, I created a loudspeaker that communicated via an IR signal between two devices. My partner and I thought it would be a cool idea to explore the possibilities of what we could do with these boards. We were excited about the potential to create something unique and hands-on, and this project allowed us to experiment with both hardware and software in a creative way.

• During this process, I learned the importance of checking all your connections before testing. We encountered several issues, and upon troubleshooting, we realized that many of the problems we faced were caused by a single faulty wire. This experience taught me how crucial it is to double-check all aspects of a project before diving into the next step. It was a reminder of how small mistakes can have a large impact on the outcome.

• The 7 standards of the class include Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Knowledge Constructor, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, Creative Communicator, and Global Collaborator. My project connects to the standard of Computational Thinker because we had to program the boards to transmit the IR signal and then troubleshoot various issues that came up along the way. This required us to think critically and problem-solve, which is directly tied to the computational thinking skills emphasized in class.

• A challenge I overcame in this project was when we couldn’t get the speaker to work as expected. After trying several solutions, I figured out that adding an amplifier to the setup made it function properly. This was a key learning moment because it showed how sometimes a simple addition or adjustment can resolve a problem that might seem complex at first.

• If I were given a chance to do this project again, I would change the tones the speaker made. The default tones were not ideal for the project and sounded somewhat unpleasant. If we had more time, I would program custom tones to improve the audio quality and make the sound more fitting for our intended use. This change would have enhanced the overall experience and outcome of the project.

• Hastings High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program offers a wide range of courses, including Agriculture, Business Management, Computer Programming, Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, Digital Multimedia, Engineering Design, Finance, Insurance, and Marketing. My project connects to the Computer Programming CTE program because it involved using code to program the Circuit Playground Express board and work with the IR signal. The experience I gained in programming for this project is directly related to what students in the Computer Programming program would learn.

• My project also connects to careers in computer programming because it required us to write and troubleshoot code to program the Adafruit board. Learning to code for physical devices like this one is an important skill in the tech industry, and it highlighted how computer programming can be applied to real-world scenarios and creative projects, further linking the project to careers in the field.

Chatgpt was used to improve answers and add text