Circuits & Coding

Technology for STEM Educators: Circuits & Coding

Participants in this course will learn best practices for integrating interactive coding and circuitry into their curriculum using Makey Makey and Circuit Playground Express. They will apply this knowledge by creating a fully-functional, STEM curriculum-aligned activity that utilizes either Makey Makey or Circuit Playground Express with their students.

Total Sessions: 5 Estimated Hours: 15

Session One | Basic Circuits & Makey Makey | 2 hrs

Outcomes

• Define circuits

• Understand a simple circuit

• Identify the benefits of integrating Makey Makey into K12 curriculum

• Discuss educational applications of Makey Makey within K12 classroom settings.

• Review a variety of real student projects that utilize Makey Makey

Tasks

1. WATCH the Basic Circuits & Makey Makey video.

2. Complete Activity 1.1 - Resource Review by reviewing each of the following resources on Makey Makey:

a. Makey Makey: https://makeymakey.com/

b. VIDEO: Makey Makey - An Invention Kit for Everyone

c. WATCH Invention Literacy Discussion with Jay Silver (co-inventor of Makey Makey) or READ Invention Literacy by Jay Silver

d. READ What is a Circuit? via Sparkfun

e. REVIEW Makey Makey Educators Guide

i. This resource also includes a section specifically geared toward Administrators if you need to make the case for Makey Makey in your classroom

ii. It’s also downloadable

f. CHECK OUT Makey Makey Courses

g. CHECK OUT Makey Makey Projects via Instructables

h. BE INSPIRED by this video of a Makey Makey Powered Living Space at a TEDxYouth@Austin event

i. Video Library: Colleen Graves’ (Makey Makey Educator) YouTube Channel

j. VIDEO: Academic Ways to Use Makey Makey in the Elementary Classroom via Techie Teacher

k. VIDEO: 14 Creative Makey Makey Ideas for School via Surfing Scratcher

l. VIDEO: Makey Makey Music Examples via Eric Rosenbaum

m. Top 5 Lessons for Integrating Makey Makey into Your Curriculum via SparkFunEducation

n. Makey Makey Resource Page

i. More Makey Makey Resources

o. Learning at Home Course for Students and Teachers via Makey Makey

p. Resources for Teaching Makey Makey At Home, Hybrid Models or Remote Learning via Makey Makey

i. This resource includes 16 classes for students along with embeddable Google slides for teachers

q. Makey Makey Certified Educator Workshop

r. Makey Makey Educator Community on Facebook

3. Complete Activity 1.2 - Journal Response by responding to the following journaling prompt via Google Forms: Circuits & Coding Journal Response 1a - Makey Makey Ideas

a. In your response, you will be asked to identify possible Makey Makey projects or activities you might be able to complete with your students.

Session Two | Using Makey Makey to Teach Circuitry | 3 hrs

Outcomes

• Understand the electronic components of the kit and how to setup and use Makey Makey

• Understand that Makey Makey can be setup to work with Scratch, an online coding platform

• Use Makey Makey as part of a basic circuitry project in order to demonstrate understanding of the device

Tasks

1. WATCH the Using Makey Makey video.

2. Complete Activity 2.1 - Makey Makey Tutorial.

a. Borrow a Makey Makey kit from one of the school carts.

b. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the First Time Setup! Banana Piano! Tutorial from Makey Makey to set up and try out your Makey Makey.

c. Need more support? Check out:

i. Review the Makey Makey Classic Hookup Guide via Sparkfun

ii. Watch the Makey Makey First Time Plug-In and Troubleshooting Guide

3. Activity 2.2 - WATCH the How Does Makey Makey Work & How to Use Makey Makey with Scratch video that walks through how to use the Makey Makey with Scratch.

4. Complete Activity 3.3 - Makey Makey Practice. In this activity you are asked to select an interactive experience either from Makey Makey or Scratch and then design a controller using Makey Makey.

a. First, select an interactive experience, app, or game from either the Makey Makey Plug & Play Apps or the Scratch Library.

i. Play for a bit, just using the computer, to get a sense of how the controls work.

ii. Be sure to bookmark the app or game you choose or save the link. You will need to submit this in your reflection

b. Use Makey Makey and conductive objects of your choice to create an interactive controller for your selected game or app.

i. PRO TIP: It is highly recommended NOT to insert your alligator clips directly into any objects, this will lead to rust. Instead, connect your alligator clips to the jumper wires (white wires) included in your MM kit and then insert those into your objects.

ii. You will need to take a photo of your creation for your reflection!

c. OPTIONAL: Learn to Remap the Keys on your Makey Makey

i. This is definitely not necessary for this activity or any of our purposes within the course, but if you want a challenge, go for it!

d. Reflect on the experience by responding to the following journaling prompt via Google Forms: Coding & Circuits Journal Response 2a - Makey Makey Practice.

5. Additional Resources on Makey Makey and Scratch:

a. REVIEW How to Create a Controller to Plug and Play via Makey Makey

b. WATCH How Does Makey Makey Work and How to Use Makey Makey with Scratch via Surfing Scratcher on YouTube

c. REVIEW Getting Started with Scratch via Makey Makey

d. WATCH & FOLLOW ALONG with Coding Makey Makey Key Presses in Scratch

i. And / Or REVIEW Code Your Key Presses in Scratch via Makey Makey

e. REVIEW this wiki page about the Makey Makey Extension in Scratch 3.0

f. Getting Started with Scratch via Makey Makey

g. Coding with Makey Makey and Scratch 3.0 via Diyode

h. Playlist: Makey Makey Scratch Tutorials via Surfing Scratcher

Session Three | Programmable Circuits & CPX | 2 hrs

Outcomes

• Define programmable circuits

• Understand what a Circuit Playground Express is and how it works

• Discuss educational applications of Circuit Playground Express within K12 classroom settings.

• Understand the key features of the MakeCode platform and how it works with Circuit Playground Express

Tasks

1. WATCH the Programmable Circuits & CPX video.

2. Complete Activity 3.1 - Resource Review by reviewing each of the following resources on Circuit Playground Express and MakeCode:

a. WATCH How Arduino is Open-Sourcing Imagination by Massimo Banzi via TED

b. What is Arduino? via Arduino

c. What is an Arduino? via Sparkfun

d. K-12 Interest Grows in ‘Physical Computing’ as Hands-On Approach to Computer Science & STEM via EducationWeek

e. How to Encourage Physical Computing in Elementary School via Edutopia

f. Physical Computing Maker Resources for K-12 Educators via MIT Edgerton Center

g. Make CS Accessible to All Students with Physical Computing via ISTE

h. WATCH Circuit Playground is for Everyone via Adafruit

i. REVIEW the following sections of the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express Guide

i. Overview

ii. Guided Tour

j. REVIEW the MakeCode 101 Section of the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express Guide

i. This section contains a lot of information about the MakeCode program and its features and will be important to review carefully!

ii. Feel free to follow along for practice!

iii. There are blue buttons at the bottom of each page of this section to guide you through the tutorial / overview

3. Complete Activity 3.2 - Journal Response by responding to the following journaling prompt via Google Forms: Circuits & Coding Journal Response 3a - Circuit Playground Express Ideas

a. In your response, you will be asked to identify possible Circuit Playground Express projects or activities you might be able to complete with your students.

Session Four | Using CPX to Teach Programmable Circuits | 3 hrs

Outcomes

• Describe key features of the Circuit Playground Express (CPX)

• Understand the electronic components of the kit and how to setup and use CPX

• Understand that CPX can be setup to work with MakeCode, an online coding platform

• Use CPX as part of a programmable circuits project in order to demonstrate understanding of the device

Tasks

1. WATCH the Using Circuit Playground Express video.

2. Activity 4.1 - WATCH the CPX & MakeCode Demo video that walks through how to set up and program the Circuit Playground Express using MakeCode.

a. If you need additional support, check out these videos:

i. Circuit Playground Express - What Is It? via Core Electronics

ii. Circuit Playground Express & MakeCode via Core Electronics

iii. Connecting the Circuit Playground Express via Core Electronics

iv. Circuit Playground Express: Upload Your First Program via Core Electronics

3. Complete Activity 4.2 - CPX Tutorial.

a. Borrow a CPX kit from one of the school carts.

b. Follow along with the Demo video or follow the step-by-step instructions in the Siren Tutorial from Adafruit to set up and try out your Circuit Playground Express.

4. Complete Activity 4.3 - CPX Practice. In this activity, you are asked to choose a tutorial from the CPX Tutorial Guides and follow the instructions to program the CPX accordingly.

a. Choose one of the following Adafruit MakeCode Tutorials to try on your own:

i. Magic Wand

ii. Clap Lights

iii. Loudness Necklace

iv. Night Light

v. Button Flipper

vi. Remote LED

b. Follow the step-by-step instructions carefully to complete the tutorial and program the CPX using MakeCode (https://makecode.adafruit.com/ ).

i. You will need to have the editor open to write your code as you follow along with your Tutorial.

4. 1. 1. 1. You can access the tutorials INSIDE the Code Editor here

c. Reflect on the experience by responding to the following journaling prompt via Google Forms: Coding & Circuits Journal Response 4a - CPX Practice.

5. Additional Resources on CPX and MakeCode:

a. Access Adafruit’s version of MakeCode here: https://makecode.adafruit.com/

b. Circuit Playground Express Base Kit from Adafruit

c. IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES WITH YOUR CPX, try these steps:

i. If you are using a Mac, follow the instructions here: Update the Bootloader

ii. If you are using a Windows laptop, follow the instructions here: Windows Driver Installation

5. 1. 1. 1. If you are running Windows 10 you can probably skip this step!

d. Maker Course for Adafruit Circuit Playground Express via Adafruit

e. VIDEO PLAYLIST: Circuit Playground Express Workshop via Core Electronics on YouTube

f. Book: Getting Started with Adafruit Circuit Playground Express via Make:

g. Video Playlist: Circuit Playground Express Workshop via Core Electronics on YouTube

h. Using Circuit Playground with Code.org CS Discoveries

i. For additional information and support with using CPX with CSD, please check out the resources below:

1. The Circuit Playground via Code.org

2. Adafruit Circuit Playground Express & Code.org’s CS Discoveries - Startup Guide via Adafruit

3. Maker Toolkit & CPX Support via Code.org

4. Video Playlist: Circuit Playground on Code.org via Computer Science & Coding on YouTube

Session Five | Circuits & Coding Project | 5 hrs

Outcomes

• Develop and teach a lesson that implements EITHER Makey Makey OR CPX with students

• Submit lesson plan and reflection on the lesson

Project Overview

WATCH the Circuits & Coding Project overview video:

As discussed in the video, there are 3 steps to your final project:

1. Design a lesson plan.

2. Teach your lesson.

3. Submit your lesson plan & a reflection through Google Form.

Please consult the Project Guide document for additional overview information and the Project Rubric.

Integrating Circuitry into STEM Curriculum

For your final project you are asked to design a lesson plan utilizing Makey Makey or CPX with your students that aligns with your STEM curriculum. You will need to identify where this lesson fits into your STEM curriculum and how it aligns to standards and curriculum goals.

• Lesson plans must be aligned to your STEM curriculum and your school’s preferred standards

  • If you are not working directly with STEM curriculum, you may align to another content area.

Teach Your Lesson

After designing your lesson, you will implement and carry out your lesson plan featuring Makey Makey or CPX with your students.

Lesson Documentation & Reflection

Finally, you will submit documentation of your lesson in the form of a full lesson plan following your school’s preferred template and a reflection on how the lesson went following implementation.

In your reflection, you must address each of these 6 prompts:

1. How does this lesson align with your STEM curriculum? (or other curriculum?)

2. What student outcomes does this lesson address?

3. What standards does this lesson align with?

4. Do you consider this lesson to be a success? Why or why not?

5. What would you do differently next time?

6. Do you plan to carry on using this technology? Why or why not?

Project Submission

Your project will be submitted to us for review in order to receive your CPD credit.

Along with your submission, you will be asked to complete two short surveys to provide feedback on the course and reflect on your experience with the content and measure your new learning and progress with the topic.

Submit your project here: Circuits & Coding Project Submission Form

Additionally, please take a few minutes to complete the following forms to provide feedback on the course and your experience with the content:

• Course Feedback Form

• Retrospective Pre/Post Survey