LESSON (Creating DIY Assistive Technology with Makey Makey)

Creating DIY Assistive Technology with Makey Makey

This digital product provides educators with everything needed to guide students through the process of designing and building DIY assistive technology for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), using Makey Makey and everyday materials. The project aims to cultivate empathy in students by encouraging them to design solutions that directly impact the lives of users with specific needs. Through a series of structured lessons and engaging hands-on activities, students will apply their knowledge of design, circuitry, and coding to create adaptive game controllers or assistive devices.

What You’ll Get:

• Detailed Lesson Plan Instructions: Step-by-step lesson plan for guiding students through the entire process of designing, building, testing, and refining DIY assistive technology. Instructions are structured to follow an empathetic design process, focusing on end-users with cerebral palsy. The lesson emphasizes empathy by asking students to place themselves in the shoes of those who will use the devices.
• Student Workbook (PDF): A comprehensive student workbook that walks students through each phase of the design process, from brainstorming and prototyping to testing and refining. The workbook also includes reflection prompts to help students connect their designs to the needs of the user.
• Examples of Instructables: The product includes real examples of successful student projects, like adaptive game controllers, published as Instructables. These examples will inspire students and guide them through the process of creating their own. See the examples below:
  • Adaptive Game Controller for Cerebral Palsy
  • Adaptive Game Controller for Diplegia and Quadriplegia
• Instructables Instructions: Students will follow detailed instructions for building their own assistive technology, just as the original student creators did. This includes guidance on how to document their work and submit their final product as an Instructable to share with a broader community of caregivers and parents. This process enables students to contribute to a growing catalog of assistive technology solutions.
• Featured Educator Page: Learn from the work of Ramsey Musallam, the featured educator in the Makey Makey community, whose projects focus on integrating design, technology, and empathy in educational contexts. Visit his Featured Educator Page to see how these projects are transforming learning.

Why You Should Use This:

This lesson goes beyond simply teaching technology and coding skills—it challenges students to think critically and empathetically about how their designs can improve the quality of life for others. With guidance on using Makey Makey, lesson plan instructions, real-world project examples, and a detailed student workbook, this product will help you seamlessly integrate this impactful project into your classroom.

By the end of the project, students will have not only developed and published their own Instructable, but they will also understand the importance of user-centered design, particularly for individuals with physical disabilities. Empower your students to make a meaningful difference through design and technology!

This description now includes the requested elements and emphasizes the resources available, with links to Instructables and further guidance on integrating empathy into the lesson. Let me know if you'd like any additional changes!