A Study of Microcontrollers in Finnish Comprehensive Schools - Oulu
A Study of Microcontrollers in Finnish Comprehensive Schools - Oulu
A Study of Microcontrollers in Finnish Comprehensive Schools - Oulu
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Journal <strong>of</strong> Technology Education Vol. 18 No. 2, Spr<strong>in</strong>g 2007<br />
Race cars model elements <strong>in</strong> the real world. However, children are not<br />
limited <strong>in</strong> their th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g to duplicat<strong>in</strong>g what already exists. For example, some<br />
children supply motive power us<strong>in</strong>g propellers <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g the traditional<br />
idea <strong>of</strong> supply power to wheels. See Figure 6. The creativity <strong>of</strong> the student can<br />
be enhanced and expanded by how the problem is stated. For example, if the<br />
problem is to build the “fastest device” <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> the “fastest car,” children tend<br />
to th<strong>in</strong>k differently.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g touches be<strong>in</strong>g added to<br />
race car<br />
Program download<strong>in</strong>g to microcontroller<br />
chip<br />
Figure 6. Projects designed for competition<br />
The last category that evolved <strong>in</strong>cluded projects that were “just for fun” or<br />
served decorative purposes. The applications <strong>in</strong> this category are shown <strong>in</strong><br />
Figure 7. They did not directly correspond to the children’s needs and purposes<br />
emerg<strong>in</strong>g from their own liv<strong>in</strong>g environment. At the same time the researchers<br />
recognized the need for children to have beautiful and fun th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> their<br />
environment. In that sense, the projects met the needs <strong>of</strong> the children. For<br />
example, the map <strong>of</strong> F<strong>in</strong>land with certa<strong>in</strong> cities highlighted with LEDs has some<br />
practical value, but this was not substantiated <strong>in</strong> either the teacher’s report or <strong>in</strong><br />
other data sources. Moreover, the applications <strong>in</strong> this category were not<br />
<strong>in</strong>tended to just model someth<strong>in</strong>g already exist<strong>in</strong>g. When hav<strong>in</strong>g fun, children<br />
may <strong>in</strong>vent a new, different and even <strong>in</strong>novative use for technology as well. Joe<br />
Boy – The Speak<strong>in</strong>g Parrot (see Figure 7) was awarded third place <strong>in</strong> a national<br />
research and <strong>in</strong>vention competition for children <strong>in</strong> May 2005<br />
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