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 />
<strong>Study</strong> Purpose<br />
The overall purpose <strong>of</strong> the study was to help children become familiar with<br />
some essential features <strong>of</strong> microcontroller technology and its possibilities <strong>in</strong><br />
various aspects <strong>of</strong> everyday life. Moreover, the study essentially aimed to<br />
encourage children to engage <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>novative th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g uses for<br />
microcontrollers to meet their own needs and purposes. More specifically, the<br />
study <strong>in</strong>volved the follow<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
Teach<strong>in</strong>g about technology: Give children opportunities to learn about the<br />
human-made environment (technology).<br />
In accordance with this aim, an effort was made to enhance the children’s<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the human-made environment “such as it is.” This aim is close<br />
to the goals <strong>of</strong> most school subjects, where teach<strong>in</strong>g aims to <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g about the world at large. In this respect familiarization with<br />
microcontrollers and their programm<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>troduced a very contemporary<br />
content area to technology education.<br />
Teach<strong>in</strong>g through technology: Give children opportunities to engage <strong>in</strong> the<br />
processes <strong>of</strong> technology, i.e., to design, make, and apply technology <strong>in</strong> a<br />
creative and <strong>in</strong>novative manner<br />
This aim could also be exemplified <strong>in</strong> the def<strong>in</strong>ition: “Technology is human<br />
<strong>in</strong>novation <strong>in</strong> action” (ITEA, 2000). If the “message” <strong>of</strong> this def<strong>in</strong>ition is the<br />
basis for teach<strong>in</strong>g technology, it cannot merely <strong>in</strong>volve the study and<br />
consideration <strong>of</strong> the functional pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>of</strong> microcontroller technology as an<br />
end <strong>in</strong> itself. Children need to be given opportunities for creative and <strong>in</strong>novative<br />
action as well. This is why the study aimed to focus on the <strong>in</strong>novative uses <strong>of</strong><br />
microcontrollers <strong>in</strong> applications that arose from the pupils’ own needs and ideas.<br />
Ultimately, the study was directed toward this question: What type <strong>of</strong><br />
microcontroller applications emerged <strong>in</strong> the children’s own projects?<br />
<strong>Study</strong> Methodology<br />
Instructional Context<br />
The participants consisted <strong>of</strong> both primary and secondary school teachers<br />
who had been tak<strong>in</strong>g part <strong>in</strong> the Technology Education NOW! project over a<br />
period <strong>of</strong> years. All project schools were supplied with <strong>in</strong>formation about a<br />
microcontroller called the “Picaxe” (see www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe) and<br />
associated activities. Over 50 teachers were contacted and given the opportunity<br />
to participate and 12 elected to do so.<br />
First, the Picaxe-08 system was <strong>in</strong>troduced to the teachers by arrang<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
two-day <strong>in</strong>-service tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g course. The course consisted <strong>of</strong> both theoretical and<br />
practical aspects <strong>of</strong> microcontrollers with a special emphasis on the Picaxe-08<br />
system. Another focus <strong>of</strong> the tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g was the programm<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>of</strong>tware.<br />
Importantly, the teachers were encouraged to make their own <strong>in</strong>novative Picaxe<br />
applications and this pedagogical perspective was also emphasized for the<br />
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