Squishy Circuits

Affordances

The Squishy Circuits tool allows for hands-on and creative learning. It incorporates multiple concepts and content areas and it allowed me to make open-ended creations, while I experimented with the kit. This tool teaches the basics of electrical circuits but allows for so much more learning to be done, which I discovered in my practice and creation. Experimenting, working through failures, and creating something new are aspects of this tool that I discovered. My experimentation with the Squishy Circuits showed me the importance of project-based learning, and how it can influence impactful learning within the classroom. The number of things to try and make can be endless, and the end product is solely up to the creator!

Constraints

The Squishy Circuits came with a few restrictions that could affect students' overall learning and engagement. One difficulty that I faced, was that I spent most of my time creating the clay model. This took away from the overall objective of learning the basics of electrical circuits. Instead of experimenting with the battery pack, LED lights, and piezoelectric buzzer, I was obsessed with making my model, which took away from creating a product that did something more than just look nice. Squishy Circuit kits come in different packs. I was using the Standard Kit which I discovered did not have all of the tools I needed for my creation which caused frustration because I was unable to create something that was more intricate and intriguing to me as a learner.