6-8.CS.2 Standard Breakdown

6-8.CS.2 - Design a project that combines hardware and software components to collect and exchange data. [Computing Systems (concept) / Hardware & Software (sub-concept) + Creating (practice)]

Collecting and exchanging data involves input, output, storage, and processing. When possible, students select the components for their project designs by considering tradeoffs between factors such as functionality, cost, size, speed, accessibility, and aesthetics. Students do not need to implement their project design in order to meet this standard.

Connections

NGSS Connections

The middle school engineering standards of the Next Generation Science Standards has students design a project with specific criteria in mind and has them evaluate to find the best design given specific constraints like functionality and cost.

MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.

Examples

Students can use a Micro:bit to design a project using one of Micro:bit's onboard sensors or attaching an external accessory to collect data.

Find some of the different input and output accessories for Micro:bit's here at https://microbit.org/buy/accessories/

Here is small Micro:bit project that counts the number of times a loud noise occurs.

The Microbit (V2 shown above) has many components to collect different data such as the microphone, thermometer, compass, accelerometer, touch logo, buttons, and bluetooth antenna. Additional components can be connected using the pins. Learn more about the different built-in components here: https://microbit.org/get-started/user-guide/overview/.

This example uses the Bonsai Buckaroo, the micro:bit, and Microsoft MakeCode to create an automatic plant care system. The sensor reads the moisture level of the soil and if it drops down below a programmed threshold then the water pump activates to water the plant more.

Here is the sample code to use these components to the right. It reads the moisture level and sets it to variable "reading". If the level is below 500 then it plays a tone and turns on the water pump for half a second. Then it pauses before checking the level again.

Project Design.pptx

Students can use this planning sheet to design a project to consider the hardware, software and data exchange.

More Examples

For example, students could design a mobile tour app that displays information relevant to specific locations when the device is nearby or when the user selects a virtual stop on the tour. They select appropriate components, such as GPS or cellular-based geolocation tools, textual input, and speech recognition, to use in their project design.

Alternatively, students could design a project that uses a sensor to collect the salinity, moisture, and temperature of soil. They may select a sensor that connects wirelessly through a Bluetooth connection because it supports greater mobility, or they could instead select a physical USB connection that does not require a separate power source.

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