Tricia Fuglestad's Blog

STEAM and Active Learning Workshop

9/29/2018

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Click the image to view my SMORE workshop flyer with links to all the resources

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Fugleflick Art Bot

11/27/2017

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A group of young engineers, computer programers, and artists gathered in the art room during lunch recesses for a couple months to see what they could make using a Hyperduino, old computer, some cardboard, LEDs, touch pads, and creativity. The results of the collaboration is called a Fugleflick Art Bot. It is an interactive art piece that plays 5 different student-created, art-related movies when you touch a button on the computer screen in its belly with audio coming through the speaker (mouth). The lights are on a circuit made from copper wire and batteries connected to two LED lights behind 3-D glasses. The switch is built into the nose.

Below is a series of photos taken during the creation process. Since we were making discoveries, problem-solving, and working with limited resources, our design changed as we progressed. You'll see the original sketch was for an iPad in the robot belly but then we learned that the hyperduino needed to run in a browser. So, we adapted. The group also changed as we added artists after the engineers wired up the robot. They helped make the robot have a unified design with balanced colors with a brass brad motif.

Interview

We created a youtube playlist for the Fugleflick bot. You can explore the five Fugleflick movies that it is programed to play here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS4LIonCAPBfr0enREOu6HH9BQPf6JaGf
Explore all our Fugleflicks here.

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How to Make a Light Up Robot

12/7/2015

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So, if you've been following my posts lately you would notice that I've been working on an idea to incorporate paper circuits into an art-making experience for my students.
See my post where I discovered how to make a circuit & dreamt of a light up robot.
See my post where I made my prototype for a light up robot.
Now, watch my step-by-step video where I try to explain the process here or below.

Click to view the Robot Paper Circuit Lesson

Paper Circuit Art with LEDs from Tricia Fuglestad on Vimeo.

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Light Up Robots with Paper Circuits

7/16/2014

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Light up robot on foam board w/ paper circuits

I've been learning about ways to add more science to my art projects via conferences, Edcamp Chicago, Twitter, the Art of Tinkering book, and of course having a husband who is a high school science teacher helps. I decided to try creating an art and science lesson using paper circuits as a first step. The plan (see this blog post were I drew out the plan and animated what I hoped would be the results here) is to have students design and paint a robot, make a circuit with copper tape, LEDs, and batteries on the back that lead to a flap in the front that will complete the circuit.
I submitted the plan as a project on Donor's Choose. So, if you would like to in pitch a few bucks to help us get a chance to make these use this link. (Thanks for considering!)

Click for Robot ideas

I put this pinterest board of robot ideas together for designing a robot. There are SO many amazing ideas here. I was very inspired so I ordered a stash of supplies via amazon and tried it out today.

Designed a Robot on Foam Board

Metallic Paints outlined in black Sharpie

close up of battery with copper tape on flap

I punched small holes in the eyes (boy that sounds mean) and cut a battery-sized circle from the center of the robot belly. I kept my circle as a "flap" for closing the circuit to turn on the LED lights I snugged up into the holes in the eyes.

Series circuit on the back of the robot

Please donate so we can try this project

Supply List:

Here is a quick look at the things this lesson can teach

UPDATE: view my tutorial here

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Paper Circuits add STEAM to Learning

7/11/2014

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My STEAM logo drawn in Brushes and animated in DoInk on the iPad

During the last school year or so I've been seeing many examples of tinkering, maker spaces, and other science infused projects showcased at conferences and online. I'm very interested in trying to find project ideas that are a good fit for my 45 minute elementary art classes, will not compromise the art-making experience, and embed science concepts. I've lots of ideas but one place I want to begin is with paper circuits. See this resource.

I hacked into an old LED flashlight, grabbed some copper wire and tried to learn about making a very simple circuit. It is very exciting to see the LED light up after making all the right connections. My next task was to think about the art that this LED could light up.

This project will fund our Paper Circuit Robot painting. Click above to see my supply list & full description. Please consider donating.

It's hard to explain how excited I was to play with paper circuits. I designed and painted a STEAM poster and lit it up all in one day. I dreamed of LEDs all night until I came up with this project idea that I think will be a great way for me to introduce circuits and art concepts combined: a light up robot painting. I wrote this Donor's Choose project to get the supplies needed.

1. Design/paint a symmetrical robot on foam core with the illusion of depth using shapes, color balance, & metallic paints. Include a center circle.

2. Flip over the art, gently punch holes through the eyes for LEDs, remove a circle in the center for battery, build a circuit. Insert battery in circle.

3. Build & attach a small flap on the top edge over the battery from the front of the robot. The copper tape conducts electricity and closes the circuit when the flap closes.