7P7- Circuit playground

Daily Log

Reflection:

• Using a Circuit Playground and Adafruit, I was able to create a variety of cool projects. One of my favorites was coding a Star Wars-themed program, since Star Wars is one of my all-time favorite movies. I used the Circuit Playground to bring iconic sounds and lights to life, making it feel like I was part of the Star Wars universe. It was exciting to combine my love for the movie with my interest in coding and electronics. This project gave me a deeper appreciation for how technology can bring creative ideas to reality. 

• During this process, I learned how to code using a Circuit Playground, which was an exciting and rewarding experience. I started by familiarizing myself with the basic functions and features of the board, like controlling LEDs and playing sounds. As I progressed, I experimented with more complex coding techniques to bring my Star Wars projects to life. This hands-on experience not only improved my coding skills but also helped me understand how hardware and software work together to create interactive projects. It was a fun way to expand my knowledge and apply what I learned in a creative way. 

• The 7 standards of the class are Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Knowledge Constructor, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, Creative Communicator, and Global Collaborator. My project ties to global Collaborator because I shared my website and my coding with the world.

• A challenge I overcame during this project was not knowing how to code at the start. At first, I felt unsure about how to begin, but I was determined to figure it out. I turned to the tutorials available on the Adafruit website, which provided step-by-step instructions and explanations. With these resources, I was able to learn the basics of coding and apply them to my projects. By the end, I was able to successfully code my Circuit Playground and create the Star Wars-themed programs I envisioned. 

• Given a chance to do this again, I would change how I used my time. Looking back, I realized that I had plenty of time before the end of class to explore more advanced coding techniques or work on additional projects. Instead of rushing through certain parts, I would have spent more time experimenting and refining my work. By better managing my time, I could have made my projects even more creative and polished. This experience taught me the importance of time management in order to fully explore all possibilities

• Hastings High School Career and Technical Education Program offers Agriculture, Business Management, Computer Programming, Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, Digital Multimedia, Engineering Design, Finance, Insurance, Marketing.  My project connects to the Computer Programming CTE program at Hastings High School.  

• My project connects to careers in video game making because coding is a crucial part of creating a video game. Just like in video game development, I had to write code to make my Circuit Playground respond to different inputs, like lights and sounds. Learning how to code and problem-solve during this project gave me a glimpse into the skills needed for a career in game development. In video game making, you need to understand programming languages and how to bring a concept to life through coding, much like I did with my Star Wars project. This connection has made me more interested in exploring a future in video game design and development.

• Assistance provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, during a conversation on November 20, 2024.