Creativity is at the heart of a makerspace. The possibilities are endless and the supplies in a makerspace can spark ideas. One of my favorite creativity-fueling components of our makerspace is a Makey Makey, or as they're known as - an invention kit for everyone. The Makey Makey comes in a simple box with very little instructions. For non-techies, the wires and alligator clips could scare people from exploring. So, let’s break this down, because there is no reason to fear the unknown.
The Makey Makey comes with a circuit board (your home base), a USB connector to connect to your computer, and alligator clips and wires (these help you connect and create). All of these components allow you to connect back to your computer to control what’s happening on screen through the USB cord. You can connect the wires in any combination you'd like to work with different programs on your computer.
The front is designed for the alligator clip connections. It has places to connect to your computer’s arrows, space, key and click buttons. Just pinch them right into the designated holes. Along the bottom, you’ll find a row of the ground connectors (more about this in a minute).
The front is designed for the alligator clip connections. It has places to connect to your computer’s arrows, space, key and click buttons. Just pinch them right into the designated holes. Along the bottom, you’ll find a row of the ground connectors (more about this in a minute).
The back is where you can utilize the wires. There are small wire ports along the sides where wires can be inserted to connect to even more parts of your computer. The left side will connect with letters on your keyboard (W, A, S, D, F, G) and the right has similar connections to the front, but also includes other mouse features like a right and left click. The top connections allow you to link into the Arduino components and the bottom connections offer more ground connections.
If you find the wires to be too short, you can extend the wire connections by adding an alligator clip.
If you find the wires to be too short, you can extend the wire connections by adding an alligator clip.
The wires or alligator clips can be connected to any object that can conduct electricity. This is what will test your knowledge of electrical conductors and has excellent classroom connections to teaching electricity, which is part of the Next Generation Science Standards. There are loads of inquiry-based learning you can do with your students to help them learn about what can conduct electricity. Let your students choose what to connect to the Makey Makey. People have used bananas or potatoes and even pencil graphite!
Now the last piece of the Makey Makey magic is the ground connectors. The ground connectors allow you to be interactive with your Makey Makey as you help to complete the circuit. You hold an end of an alligator clip connected to the ground and then touch your electrically conductive object you selected (like Play Dough in the picture). Your computer will react as you complete the circuit. If you forget to pick up the ground connection, your Makey Makey won't respond.
To get started, try the Makey Makey piano or bongos and use to have students write music on their own banana piano.
Now the last piece of the Makey Makey magic is the ground connectors. The ground connectors allow you to be interactive with your Makey Makey as you help to complete the circuit. You hold an end of an alligator clip connected to the ground and then touch your electrically conductive object you selected (like Play Dough in the picture). Your computer will react as you complete the circuit. If you forget to pick up the ground connection, your Makey Makey won't respond.
To get started, try the Makey Makey piano or bongos and use to have students write music on their own banana piano.
I’ve seen students become completely fascinated with how the electrical connections work with a Makey Makey, a completely different reaction than how I saw them react to traditional electrical circuits in science class. The main reason is how multiple people can connect and interact with the Makey Makey as long as they are holding a ground connection or if they are touching the person holding the ground connection. I witnessed one group of students creating a Makey Makey people chain to see how many people could touch hands and still have the Makey Makey work! This naturally leads into great learning conversations about how electricity works.
There are loads of great starters and project ideas on the Makey Makey website. Check out how these people have utilized the Makey Makey to fuel their imaginations - it's awesome! Also, Makey Makey has a Kickstarter going on right now for the new Makey Makey Go - a great price point and option for schools!
There are loads of great starters and project ideas on the Makey Makey website. Check out how these people have utilized the Makey Makey to fuel their imaginations - it's awesome! Also, Makey Makey has a Kickstarter going on right now for the new Makey Makey Go - a great price point and option for schools!
~Amber Bridge, Technology Consultant, Grant Wood AEA
@abridgesmith
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@abridgesmith
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