Category Archives: Teaching and Learning

3D printing forms for making custom paper shapes

Posted on March 31, 2022 by robertwilkie

Basically the author takes old paper, converts it back to pulp, and then puts it into a form he 3D printed out to shape the paper. Nice idea to make custom containers.

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Interesting app for physics lessons

Posted on March 31, 2022 by robertwilkie

Its called phyhox, seems like a neat app that uses the sensors on the phone for experiments.

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A simple plotter build

Posted on March 10, 2022 by robertwilkie

This could be a good project with kids to make a simple stepper motor plotter with and arduino. The motors used and the arduino shield are overkill for this, but if thats what you have on hand… Note that this … Continue reading →

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Simple walking robot

Posted on February 28, 2022 by robertwilkie

Something you could build with kids and let wander around the table. https://www.instructables.com/Walking-Robot-Parallel-Cranks/

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Nice tutorial on getting two Micro:bits to talk to eachother

Posted on December 31, 2021 by robertwilkie

Pretty simple write up that would be good for school kids. https://www.instructables.com/Communicate-With-MICROBIT/

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Programming a message on a Microbit with a joystick

Posted on December 1, 2021 by robertwilkie

Reminds me of doing this on TV remotes, the author basically uses the joystick to go thru the alphabet and click the letter to select, then click end and the word gets “scrolled” by. https://www.instructables.com/BBC-MicroBit-Joystick-Keyboard/

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Spooky eyes with a Micro:bit

Posted on October 9, 2021 by robertwilkie

Micro:bits are nice little controllers for teaching with kids. The author basically use them to make glowing “blinking” eyes. I like the use of hot glue to diffuse the light. https://www.instructables.com/Microbit-Glowing-Halloween-Eyes/

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Nice giant compass for whiteboards

Posted on September 6, 2021 by robertwilkie

Or chalkboards too. I like the build but not too sure why the author uses a clear plastic cap for the center point. I would think a suction cup or something might work better. Oh wait I get it, the … Continue reading →

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Touchpad to gcode

Posted on August 12, 2021 by robertwilkie

Interesting build, the author uses a rather big, and clear, touchpad to draw something that the arduino will convert to gcode, which then can be sent to a CNC. This could be a good kid project (they draw something, then … Continue reading →

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Interesting build for a USB microscope

Posted on June 25, 2021 by robertwilkie

The author takes a part a cheap USB webcam, the lenses from an LED laser pointer, and makes a microscope from it. I did not think the lenses on those laser pointers where that powerful. https://www.instructables.com/Dirt-Cheap-Microscope-With-Professional-Results/

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