I'm teaching two sections, 100 students total, in an Intro to Business & Tech course. Students enjoy the managerial content, but since I also teach an iOS App Development course, I know how much students enjoy "building something". This Fall I'm experimenting with having each student buy a Circuit Playground Express. Am planning to dedicate a class or two to demonstrating first Make Code, then Circuit Python:
- Building a "Bag of Shame" to hang on the door to beep loudly after class starts
- A snow globe that flashes in school colors (close enough) and plays first few notes of the fight song
Am also hoping to offer an outside-of-class optional seminar on a wearables project, like Sparkle Skirt for CP, but with scarfs and hats (although they can do anything).
https://learn.adafruit.com/sparkle-skir ... troduction
- materials expected (confirm or correct)
- neopixels (can I use sequins for similar but single-color flashing control or should I stick with neopixels?)
- silicone covered thread - 26awg Silicone Stranded Wire
- Circuit Playground Express (rather than a specialty and cheaper wearable microcontroller - they'll all have CPEs).
- AAA battery housing
Wondering best way to advise "stitching" into something like this scarf:
https://www.apparelandtshirts.com/index ... EoQAvD_BwE
ANY advice on managing these kinds of projects w/50 students at a time is most welcome. I'll be new to Circuit Python, but I teach Swift, so I'm expecting to pick it up quickly. Qs:
? Am expecting to use CPEs, alligator clips, and neopixels as part of tutorials that don't require sewing. Is this a fair assumption & that any code written with this setup can be easily migrated to a project that is eventually wired?
? Any advice on tools for getting 50 newbies at a time doing the kind of soldering in this project? Equipment? Dos/Don'ts (I'm not experienced at soldering, so this'll be new).
? Is it possible to connect the wiring up to CPE and make it fairly stable, but also removable so they can use their CPE in other projects? Is there some sort of snap-on or clippy connector they could put on a scarf or hat and simply unclip the CPE without having to do a final solder?
Recommendations welcome.
And a gift: I'm really trying to get more underrepresented groups interested in tech. I've drafted up some <3 min "Be Inspired" videos for the Fall that I plan to link in my syllabus (LadyAda is mentioned in the last video in the current 4 vids on the playlist. I will likely replace these videos as I update them (Doesn't seem YouTube can have persistent links to replaced videos), but I should be able to keep the playlist URL. Feedback is welcome!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... uhN2WpNuGy
Also: I if any of you (or colleagues) teach iOS/Swift/App development, I've worked with a low-cost publisher to create a flipped class curriculum that goes from no code experience to "full stack" with Google Firebase in a semester. Video of how I use this & more info at:
http://gallaugher.com/swift
Tremendous thanks for any advice,
John