Utilizing Technology in the Classroom

Circuit Playdate for Teachers Highlights

On Saturday morning, January 21st, a group of fifteen P-12 teachers, 3 EIU preservice teachers, 3 undergraduate engineering students, and faculty met at the University of Illinois in the Math, Science, and Technology Education Office in Champaign to explore basic circuits and micro-controllers. The goal was to learn and come away with ideas for integrating activities into classroom lessons.

Jana Sebestik, Director of MSTE, led the group through paper circuit activities with LEDs. They tried to solve the mystery of using different colors in the same circuit where voltage differences by color only let some light up. After learning how to use a breadboard, the group moved on to simple coding with a $10 microcontroller. They wrote their own code to build flashing color LED patterns controlled with the controller board. Most in the group had never worked with breadboard or microprocessors before. The event was part of the Southeastern Illinois P-16+ Computational Thinking Network PD program. The purpose is to prepare teachers to teach problem solving and computational literacy.

Rebecca Habing, a student at EIU and future teacher, spoke about her experience at the playdate:

"Overall, the circuits playdate was really fun and informative. We were able to make our own light up birthday cards using copper tape, batteries and LED lights. Also, we worked with creating circuits on breadboards that we were able to connect to our computers and program to light up in specific patterns. It was amazing to see how an intimidating concepts such as coding and breadboards could be taught in a way that was fun and understandable."

Classroom Circuits

On December 15th the GYO staff visited Suzie Bosler's Third Grade classroom at Carl Sandburg Elementary School in Charleston. This classroom was selected as a pilot classroom for the Southeastern Illinois P-16+ Computational Thinking Network.

This was their kickoff for studying basic electric circuits. EIU staff and students helped lead the students through an introduction to LED lights and simple battery circuits by making lighted holiday cards. It was a hectic hour of fun and discovery for all. Students quickly figured out how to distinguish between positive and negative, and how different LEDs glow with different colors. Laying out the conductive copper tape on the back of the cards to make complete circuits took some patience.

They got a big 'aha' when trying to mix colors on the same circuit. Only one color would light. Through trial and error, they were able to figure out which colors work together. Turns out different colors need slightly different voltages. Voltage need increases in the order of the rainbow.

By the end of the day everyone succeeded! There were happy students eager to take their cards home for sharing. They continued over the next month by learning to code a microcontroller to switch circuits on/off.  They integrated their learning into other subjects making game audio game boards for their close reading biography unit.

P-16 Artificial Intelligence Implications for Teachers

There will be a tech session for teachers on February 23rd called Artificial Intelligence Implications for Teachers. See flyer below for more information. To register use the QR code or click the button below, thank you!