Ideating Smart Solutions - From Problems to Prototypes:
In the Bits and Bytes club, the leaders challenged club members to think inward, literally, by recognizing issues that they experiencei n the context of their homes. From there, students had fun and were creative by proposing and constructing a prototype smart home solution with a microcontroller and sensors. Some students proposed security, building door lock systems that included motion sensors and remote accessibility. Others saw problems in regards to the comfort in their environment and built smart temperature and humidity monitors. Some students took this a step further by including a display, an ultrasonic sensor, and relays, and simulated an everyday automation system. The session emphasized that the whole process of problem-solving through technology is powerful. Students learned not just how to code a microcontroller or wire together different components and sensors, but how a microcontroller can solve real, everyday problems. Experiences shouldn't just be a result of t...