Tools and Technologies
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Technologies used by IDEA Cooperative connect to the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering and engineering design. We use microcontrollers (tiny computers), with sensors, motors, other actuators, programming tools, and 3-D modeling software and hardware. Youth participants and staff use web and media technologies to communicate ideas and progress.
Non-digital construction tools to be used include vacuform equipment and foam cutters for quickly making a prototype of a product, shop tools (saws, drills, sanders, etc.), sewing machines, and soldering irons. Materials for building prototypes include metal, wood, clay, foam, cardboard, fabric, found objects, and other craft materials. The following list gives a little more information about some of the tools we use:
- PICO Cricket
- What it is: An easy-to-use microcontroller and programming software. The PICO Cricket, developed by the MIT Media Lab, is used to introduce robotics and electronics projects to 8th and 9th grade participants. Example project: Create an electronic mood ring: a piece of jewelry that shows your mood as a color (using a temperature sensor and a tricolor LED), and sends information about your mood to a friend’s ring.
- Arduino Board
- What it is: A microcontroller designed for prototyping and home engineering projects, with a quickly growing community of users. We use these boards for robotics and electronics projects for 10th-12th graders, as a follow-up to the PICO Cricket. Example project: Design an automated basketball score-keeper using sensors and a display board.
- Inventor
- What it is: 3D modeling software for product design projects. Model a design for a puzzle toy for children at a neighborhood community center.
- 3D manufacturing technology
- What they are: 3D printers, CNC milling machines and routers allow youth to make a more professional, robust physical prototype of a design. Example project: Create a prototype of a puzzle toy to test with children at a local community center.
- Scratch
- What it is: Screen-based animation and simulation software, with a hardware interface board that allows programmers to use information from the world to change action on the screen. Developed by the MIT Media Lab. Example project: Use a hardware interface and sensor to measure the volume of noise in a school hallway, and program an animation that graphs the information on a computer screen.
- Digital cameras and image and video editing software
- What it is: Still and video cameras, and software (including iMovie, time lapse/stop motion software, and graphics software). Example project: Make a time-lapse movie to gather information about how often and when rabbits raid a vegetable garden.
- Web-based communication tools
- What they are: Email, blogs, text messaging, video conferencing, etc. Example project: Record and share information about the progress of a project, and get feedback from mentors and clients.
