Beam Center Projects |
STEPS
Prerequisite:
Space for students to work
Basic concepts of fractions
Step 1: Introduction to Project & Introduction to Gears
Initial hook: Show video of previous projects, tangible prototype, and Polygears Video
Exploration Concept: Gears, Relationship between mathematics and technology, Relationship between mathematics and music
Step 2: Creation of Tangible Gears
Exploration Concept: Gears, Revolutions, Gear's Teeth
Exploration Skills: Laser cutting, soldering
Step 3: Introduction to Circuits
Exploration Concept: Circuits, breadboard, motors, LED
Exploration Skills: Circuits
Step 4: Programing Motor
Exploration Skill: Basic Programing of Arduino
Step 5: Mounting and Decoration
Exploration Skill: Soldering, Wood Painting, Wood Work
Step 6: Input and Outputs
Exploration Concept: Input/Output, Thresholds
Exploration Skill: Potentiometer, Circuit
Step 7: Testing and Debugging
Exploration Concept: Debugging, Current, Multimeter
Exploration Skill: Use of Multimeter
Step 8: Music Theory
Exploration Concept: Music theory, tempo, rhythm
Exploration Skill: Use of metronome
Step 9: Presentation
Space for students to work
Basic concepts of fractions
Step 1: Introduction to Project & Introduction to Gears
Initial hook: Show video of previous projects, tangible prototype, and Polygears Video
Exploration Concept: Gears, Relationship between mathematics and technology, Relationship between mathematics and music
- Explanation of the goals of the project
- Introduction of how gears work
- Interaction with gear's software
- Interaction with gear's tangible kit
Step 2: Creation of Tangible Gears
Exploration Concept: Gears, Revolutions, Gear's Teeth
Exploration Skills: Laser cutting, soldering
- Predict gears revolution based on preceding gears
- Design of Gears
- Laser cut gears
- If time, soldering introduction using 4 multiple photocells
Step 3: Introduction to Circuits
Exploration Concept: Circuits, breadboard, motors, LED
Exploration Skills: Circuits
- Introduction of basic circuits
- Introduction to Arduino, pin 13 LED example
- Motor's prototype explanation linking it to magnetism
- Introduction to breadboards
Step 4: Programing Motor
Exploration Skill: Basic Programing of Arduino
- Creation of circuits with motor
- Add motor to gear and move a system of 4+ gears, predict revolution
- If time continue soldering photo-resistors
Step 5: Mounting and Decoration
Exploration Skill: Soldering, Wood Painting, Wood Work
- Finish soldering the photocells
- Decorating the gears
- Mounting of the gears
Step 6: Input and Outputs
Exploration Concept: Input/Output, Thresholds
Exploration Skill: Potentiometer, Circuit
- Introduction ot Input/Outputs
- Solder the photocells into the circuit
- Program arduino for the use of potentiometer
Step 7: Testing and Debugging
Exploration Concept: Debugging, Current, Multimeter
Exploration Skill: Use of Multimeter
- Try the circuit and use the multimeter to debug the circuit
- If time left, review the gears movement in terms of fractions
Step 8: Music Theory
Exploration Concept: Music theory, tempo, rhythm
Exploration Skill: Use of metronome
- Music theory: Introduction to rhythm and tempo
- Introduction to metronome
- Adjustment of parameters of photocell and potentiometer based on the desired rhythm
Step 9: Presentation
- Each team will add a text description to the gear system for explaining their rhythm in mathematical terms