Makey Makey is the brainchild of Jay Silver and Eric Rosenbaum that was launched in 2012. It is a simple circuitry board that connects to a computer through a USB port and allows the user to create their own keyboard and mouse using everyday items. To do this the user connects alligator clips from the board to anything that conducts electricity such as playdough, water, bananas, pizza, carrots, etc. Once everything is plugged in correctly the user can literally control their computer by touching a banana! Seems strange I know, but also highly creative.
Here are a few brief introduction videos to Makey Makey.
Great Video to Introduce Makey Makey to Students:
Ted Talk about why Makey Makey was created. Well worth the watch.
Makey Makey has lots of potential in the classroom and in the media center. The most obvious example is to help expain simple circuits. By using Makey Makey, students learn how connections are made. They also learn what types of things conduct energy. Another way Makey Makey can be used is to help assist with teaching computer coding. Once users become familiar with how it Makey Makey works, student can go online to sites like Scratch.com and create a computer game that utilizes the Makey Makey keys to do new things like make a carrot scream. Perhaps one of the best and easiest ways to use Makey Makey in the library is to add it to a makerspace. Students can get creative with what type of materials can be turned into computer controls. They can also work collaboratively to solve problems that are given to them by the librarian. The Makey Makey website offers lesson ideas and there are many additional websites out there that have lesson plan ideas and best practices in the use of Makey Makey in the classroom or library setting. Below you will find a short list of these websites: - http://makeymakey.com/lessons/ - https://colleengraves.org/maker-ed-lessons-by-resource/ - https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/makey-makey-quickstart-guide/resources-and-going-further - http://educade.org/lesson_plans/use-makey-makey-to-design-a-videogame-controller - https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/1884426/ Each Makey Makey kit comes with a Makey Makey Board, USB Cable, 7 Alligator Clips, 6 Connector Wires, Instructions with Visual Project Start Guide, Online Documentation, and 20 Color Stickers and it only costs $49.95 plus shipping (http://shop.makeymakey.com/). (There are some discounts available to educators, but you have to contact the company by email to find out more information.) The Makey Makey board can control up to eighteen different keys, but to do so you would need more wires and clips which can be purchased separately on the website. Set up is extremely simple. You plug the board into the USB port on any computer. There is no software to install. The computer will recognize the Makey Makey board as long as it is setup correctly. You use the alligator clips to connect the board to the item you wish to turn into a computer key. The user then plugs in a grounding wire to the board and holds the other end. This completes the circuit! The last step is to try out your new controllers using different games or applications on your computer or the web. Here are some websites and videos explaining how to set up your Makey Makey and some creative ideas on what can be done with Makey Makey. How To: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X3hb__YynM - http://makeymakey.com/how-to/classic/ Creative Ideas: Screaming Carrot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4iTQ7lr2W0 DIY Operation Game - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KEEqZgFVsg Water Piano - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXFBmunREuQ I hope this brief posting was enough to convince you to try out Makey Makey in your own library. If you already have one or have experience using it, please add your comments. I am sure we would all be grateful for your insights.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Past Posts
August 2018
Categories |