MakeyMakey is a fun and easily configurable controller students of all ages can use to interact with educational games while being creative and learning a bit about electronics. Once the MakeyMakey controller is connected to the computer students can use it to play almost any game or musical instrument that can be played with a keyboard! If you are interested in teaching your students to code you may even consider having them create their own games to play with MakeyMakey using software like Scratch. More tech-savvy users can also use circuit boards to reconfigure the controller.
Students often learn best when given the opportunity to experiment independently, create content for themselves, and be creative. Tools like MakeyMakey are a great way for teachers to give their students the opportunity to do so, and perhaps give them the confidence to pursue knowledge and technological skills independently. Students not only gain a sense of how a keyboard or controller works, but they also learn about completing a circuit using conductive materials.
Design challenges are a valuable way to incorporate authentic learning with the makey makey and other controllers. View this TED Talk where Tom Heck shares an Assistive Technology Challenge for Middle or High schoolers. MakeyMakey has also developed a series of lessons for students (or teachers) to build their knowledge.
Once you have your hands on a MakeyMakey kit just plug it into the USB port in your computer . Using conductive materials, connect the inputs to ground via whatever method you see fit to simulate button presses on the keyboard using the controller. Its that easy, no software installation or additional setup necessary. Check out the HowTo page for a more visual guide.
Once you have your controller set up start using it to play games! There are a number available on the MakeyMakey website and KnowledgeAdventure but here are a few more:
