Summary:  Simulate the working of physical tinkering resources at the ATL.

ATL students get very limited time to make use of the tinkering resources in the ATL every week.  This is because they cannot afford to miss their regular classes in the school.  They barely get an hour or two per week to visit the ATL, barely enough to tinker.  Moreover, students don't have access to the tinkering tools or resources outside the ATL, beyond the ATL hours, or during holidays.  Due to all these constraints, students are likely to lose interest in ATL activities.  There is a dire need to make the tinkering tools & resources available to ATL students as and when they need them - from anywhere and at any time.

The most commonly used tinkering resources in the ATL include electrical and electronic components, sensors, actuators, micro-controllers, robots and drones.  Fortunately, there are many online simulation tools that mimic the working of these electrical and electronic resources.  These simulation tools eliminate the need for physical tinkering resources.  They allow students to play with "virtual" tinkering resources from anywhere and at any time.  Students can build "virtual" electrical and electronic circuits and test their working with only a computer or a smartphone.  They can build an electrical, electronic or Arduino circuit, an IoT application, or program a virtual robot to move around.  They can fly a simulated drone, and do more.   Students can also build and experience things "virtually" without the fear of making mistakes or breaking things.  Students only need a computer to simulate these ATL resources. As a result, simulation tools can remove techno-phobia from the minds of young children as these tools are simple, easy & intuitive to learn and use.   

The following tools can be used to simulate some of the physical tinkering resources in the ATL:

• TinkerCAD Circuits to simulate electrical circuits, sensors, actuators, and Arduino circuits.

• iRobot Simulator to simulate the working of a simple Robot.

• Eduvance Drone Simulator to simulate the working of a Drone (download the free DroneVR Keyboard App)

The following slide decks provide step-by-step instructions on using the above simulation tools:

Here are a few examples that make use of TinkerCAD Circuits, iRobot Simulator and EduVance Drone Simulator tools to simulate electrical & electronic circuits, sensors & actuators, arduino circuits, robots and drones:

Role of School Management:  Encourage ATL students to make use of online simulation tools outside of ATL hours.

Role of Students: Make use of the simulation tools to build electrical, electronic and Arduino circuits; program a Robot and fly a Drone.  This will help students become familiar with tinkering resources without the fear of making mistakes.

Role of Mentor(s): Guide ATL students in the usage of simulation tools.

Role of ATL In-charge:  Provide information to ATL students on online simulation tools so that they can make use of them outside of ATL hours.

Put to use a few online tools to simulate some of the physical tinkering resources in the ATL.  Submit the link / screenshot(s) / video-recording of the simulation tools being used in your ATL.