the oldest and most broken MaKey MaKey board is now re-soldered and ready to connect with an earlier item of salvaged switch-gear: the Electric Window unit. Connected coding fun to follow..
Just begun assembling and preparing the parts for what I hope will be a self watering plant mechanism..
Stage 1: take delivery of a battery-powered water pistol, then open it up..
This base was able to provide 3v and 4.5 v as well as having a useful switch and speaker point.
The connector block is to simplify connecting it up to the Pi / Microbit / Circuit Playground Express
First comes the opening up, then comes the moment of truth: has it got potential for inclusion into a new project?
Consideration must be given to the old battery / leaked battery / corroded connectors scenario as well as the voltage that it will be happy to operate with..
tinfoil is a great help..
There is a distinction between where a child’s toy meets a tool meets a gadget, but there was no need to draw that distinction in today’s Year 11 Computer Science class. After a brief introduction I threw open the wooden toolbox (from Sammy’s Garage – just the thing..) to reveal a smorgasbord of delights awaiting connection and coding up.
Take on Pi 3B+ and add an Adafruit GPIO header then solder wires for plugging into newly attached breadboard..
For great value electronic kit (broken toys for the most part) Scrap Store is hard to beat.
Now for some dismantling and corroded battery removal.
I had some help making an initial assessment of the loot..
Note a startled expression when the dog sat up and barked.!
Left for the start of my Secondary adventure this morning having watched my son bond with Big Trak – tis time for his father to ensure that he can stay one step ahead!
My thanks to Lydiard Park Academy Trust who gave me a perfect welcome today. The IT / Computing team are brilliant – seamless in their vision for excellence in delivery of this fabulous subject. Looking forward to teaching tomorrow – feeling a welling up of excitement that the time has come to focus on one subject – and to be able to explore that subject alongside a truly great team.
a range of apps – set up in stations which the pupils cycle through every 7 mins
