sdsdavies_education Scrapbook

Today I have been introduced to e-textiles, initially we did some tinkering -I used conductive thread and components specifically created for e-textiles to create a soft circuit (instead of a hard one using wires).  I used felt, netting,  bondaweb and conductive fabric to make a ‘push to make’ switch and felt, bondaweb and conductive fabric to make a battery holder (T.M. 3.13, T.K.3.4, part of T.K.3.6).  I also learnt to set up the university’ sewing machine(T.D. 3.3, T.M.3.8), which is fairly similar to my own. Switches can be made in different ways in e-textiles ie a press stud switch and thread, felt with two pieces of conductive fabric (as above) or jewel dangle and thread. We were also introduced to the group project we will be doing on wellbeing using e-textiles, our preliminary idea is a diabetic timer strap which alerts the user to check their insulin every so many hours.  This will be a big design and make project and will form the core competences in C.1, C.3, C.4, C.5, C.7, C.12, C.13, C.14.

Today I learnt about the use of a transistor in a circuit (in the circuit I built two weeks ago, it acts as a switch to turn on another part of the circuit when there is a change in resistance ie from an LDR).  Transistors can act as current amplifiers and the amount of amplification is called the transistor gain.  Using two transistors will make the output higher (ie bulb brighter).  I built a circuit using a capacitor (which holds and releases electrical charge - like the little red light on the TV). We also destroyed capacitors to see what they look like inside- metal spiral.  I also learnt about 555 timer circuits, astable timer circuits are oscillating - continually turning on and off ie a bicycle light.  A 555 monostable timer circuit is when the component ie LED is on until the switch is pressed then LED 2 is on (E.D. 3.2, E.D. 3.4, part of E.D.3.8, E.M. 3.1, part of E.K. 3.3).

Could you use this ‘disassembly’ technique as a teaching and learning strategy in other parts of the curriculum. 

Week 2 Day 1: Food Technology

Why is Beverley showing you the centre of the dough [or is it pastry?]

Back to textiles and electronics today and it’s been a great day. It has been a very practical day which means I don’t have much to report. I began the day reminding myself of simple circuits from Week1. Thankfully it was still fresh in my mind and I was like a duck to water. The LED lit up first time. I also experimented with different kinds of switches such a motion switches, magnetic switches and light sensing switches. This went into making a fabric simple circuit with conductive thread. I think this thread is amazing! It opens to many possibilities and really opens to the world of electronics to younger students! (See pictures). I was able to use one of the sewing machines today, I love sewing and I find it relaxing and therapeutic. I made a battery holder and fabric switch using the conductive thread.   Something exciting to report…. Myself, Poppy, Viv and Natalie have been given a Live Brief project today. The brief is from Kitronik and we need to create a product that affects well-being. Watch this space people……

I made a bag today out of carelon which is a paper like material that cannot be ironed. Even though I wasn’t at uni today I made it to get used to using the sewing machine. I have used a sewing machine before and I am confident with using it but needed a quick recap. If I made the bag again or made it with students I would sew the handles on first then sew the bag together. I would make the handles wider so it is easier to turn them inside out. I would use calico not carelon because it wrinkled up and it couldn’t be ironed and it was difficult to cut and sew.

Today in mainly making and designing we mixed electtronics and textiles together. We made a simple circuit and then added more LEDs. We used material battery holders and switches to mix electronics with textiles. I made a material circuit (photo7+8) using components (photo6) and presstuds as a switch and using conducting thread to help the current pass through.

We made our own bread today and added different amounts of salt to each batch to see how it effected the flavour and structure of the bread rolls. My bread rolls had 2% salt (6g) for 8 Bread rolls. You can taste th salt but its not overpowering like adding 2.5% (7g). Bread rolls are fast so can be made within the time of lesson and the students can learn skills like measuring, kneading, shaping and moulding. Bread dough can also be made and put in the freezer to be baked another time if cooking is difficult due to time. Freezing will not kill the yeast just denature it (slows it down). Food and cooking is my favourite and my background but its different knowing the information and being able to teach it. #teacher #learning #foodscientist #breadrolls #salt

Electroloom - creating pliable 3D printed fabrics

Made With Paper