Can I adapt?

the role of cognitive flexibility

Remember that you should have completed this lab on the Circuit Playground Express.

Part 1: External components

We can use alligator clips easily with the Circuit Playground Express.

• Load this sketch, adapted from the Blink program to use pin 6 instead of LED_BUILTIN

(This page describes how the digital pins are labeled on the board itself.)

int ledPin = 6; // control D6 (A1 on CPE)

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board

void setup() {

// initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.

pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);

}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever

void loop() {

digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)

delay(1000); // wait for a second

digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW

delay(1000); // wait for a second

}

Part 2: Group brainstorm [5 minutes]

In groups of 3, what will you make that uses the light sensor?

• You should use the sensed light level as the input.

• You should use LEDs as the output.

Cognitive flexibility

• Be open

• Try different perspectives

• Generate multiple solutions

Fishbowl activity

• Each group will get:

  • A pivot prompt

  • 3 minutes to “own” the room: brainstorm how to adapt

  • Everyone else, please remain silent

• When it is not your group’s turn, stretch your cognitive flexibility by listening in for different perspectives. Jot down thoughts and ideas, but please do not distract the group that is working.

• Remember: It’s about your approach and stretching cognitive flexibility, not about finding the “right” solution.

  • Practice active listening.

  • Move from
    “It is...” or “It must be...”
    to
    “Could it be..?” or “Might it be…?”

  • Articulate your approach.

  • Explicitly name what’s difficult (maybe the activity itself).

Due: Friday, 3/4

Work in small groups to create an interactive tangible project using a new component on your Circuit Playground Express.

• You can choose any of the components we saw today.

• You should sense at least one type of input (e.g., light, touch, tap, etc.) and respond with at least one type of output (e.g., LED/neopixel, speaker, vibe motor).

  • If you use an external component, remember what you learned with paper circuits!

  • You can use alligator clips to connect from the Circuit Playground Express to external components.

Requirements

Document your process on your web site, including successes and failures encountered along the way. There should be:

(as a group)

• documentation of your design process

• a description/sketch of your final proposed design

• documentation of your build process

• your final sketch code

• a final video or collection of photos that demonstrates the final product

(as individuals)

• a reflection on the project and how it relates to the topic of cognitive flexibility or more generally how you approach a problem/challenge

  • you can choose to write the reflection (2-3 paragraphs) or record it as video/audio (1-3 minutes)

  • challenge yourself to step back and think about any parallels you can draw to your learning journey at large, using these prompts:

• how does (not) having multiple perspectives impact your problem-solving?

• can you think of ways that cognitive flexibility could help you stretch in considering what courses you take in and out of your intended major(s)?

• looking back, are there any times where you got stuck or spun your wheels when you could have paused to seek other solutions or perspectives? do you think the outcome would have been different?

• can you think of a time when you were committed to a plan, but could have been more effective by pivoting to a new plan? what would you tell your former self?