Inspired by a chapter from the book Design, Make, Play (Honey, Kanter) about an project called Happy City wherein visitors to a museum participate in building a small community, our first Creator's Studio activity this trimester is LuminoCity. In Happy City, the miniature town is set up as an exhibit, and participants create their own "residence" adding to the many that have come before, and in this way expand the city limits. In our version, I am using the basic idea of city building, but integrating the concept of circuits. The materials are cardboard and anything students can use from our collection of recycled materials, and LittleBits components for their circuits. In a future iteration, we will also look at 2D and 3D design, bringing the laser cutter and 3D printer into play.
Students built a variety of structures, from residential homes to windmills, open pillared buildings, and even a plexiglass walled home, complete with ceiling fan. To see further details of their particular home projects, please visit the student blogs for Spring 2014.
I found this activity extremely accessible for students new to electronics and circuitry. While LittleBits might in some ways misguide a learner on the concept of circuits (not seeing the circle of the circuit), we had a pre-lesson on how a battery works, and what the flow of electrons looks like as it travels through a circuit. Adafruit's B is for Battery video is a great illustration of this concept for younger audiences. Beyond the electronics piece, this activity provided lots of opportunities for students to get creative in design and making. I do hope to follow up with the use of the laser cutter and 3D printer later in the trimester.
Below are some photos of the current buildings.
Students built a variety of structures, from residential homes to windmills, open pillared buildings, and even a plexiglass walled home, complete with ceiling fan. To see further details of their particular home projects, please visit the student blogs for Spring 2014.
I found this activity extremely accessible for students new to electronics and circuitry. While LittleBits might in some ways misguide a learner on the concept of circuits (not seeing the circle of the circuit), we had a pre-lesson on how a battery works, and what the flow of electrons looks like as it travels through a circuit. Adafruit's B is for Battery video is a great illustration of this concept for younger audiences. Beyond the electronics piece, this activity provided lots of opportunities for students to get creative in design and making. I do hope to follow up with the use of the laser cutter and 3D printer later in the trimester.
Below are some photos of the current buildings.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that I do not hold any rights to the name "LuminoCity", and thus this project should not be confused with another Lumino City, an incredibly artistic project in its own right. Nor is there any relation to the LuminoCity show that debuted in Atlanta. In my desire to come up with a uniquely relevant name for the project, a quick Google search put my hopes for originality to rest.
