Creating a wearable wildlife tracking device with Micro:Bit
Overview
Can you code & utilize a Micro:bit to create a species counter to track local wildlife? Can you design a way to make it into a “wearable device”? Can you report the data and as a whole class discuss biodiversity?
The goal of this project is to integrate the two together to make the technology more relevant and impactful. Biodiversity describes the variety of species found in Earth’s terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. The completeness or integrity of an ecosystem’s biodiversity is often used as a measure of its health. Why is diversity important in an ecosystem?
Design Challenge Title: Tracking Wildlife with a “custom” design wearable
Author(s): Jackie Druck & Trista Mullin
| Background and Question/Challenge:Background: Students will be learning about coding as well as about the internal functions of a computer/processor in STEM.They also will be learning about ecosystems in their science curriculum.The goal of this project is to integrate the two together to make the technology more relevant and impactful. Biodiversity describes the variety of species found in Earth’s terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. The completeness or integrity of an ecosystem’s biodiversity is often used as a measure of its health. Why is diversity important in an ecosystem?Question/Challenge: Can you code & utilize a Micro:bit to create a species counter to track local wildlife? Can you report the data and as a whole class discuss biodiversity?Lesson Plan: Modified from Micro:bits lesson - Protecting animals on land - Spot the species | |
| SDG Goal: Goal 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss | Why is this challenge relevant to students? This challenge is relevant to students because it will help them monitor wildlife in their own environment. It will also be a relevant example of how technology can make their life easier - rather than keeping a physical paper tally, they can use the device to obtain data. |
Constraints/Criteria:
| Materials: Micro:bitIpadPresentationSupplies to possibly design wearable:
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Math, Science, T&E, CS Standards: Skills for Analyzing and Investigating Environmental Issues - Identify and develop action strategies, including design solutions, appropriate for addressing a range of environmental issues at community and regional levels. They describe how their action strategies and design solutions might impact environmental quality and other people now and in the future. PENNSYLVANIA INTEGRATED STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENGINEERING GRADE 5 - Earth and Human Activity
PA Computer Science Standards:1B-CS-01: Describe how internal and external parts of computing devices function to form a system.1B-CS-02: Model how computer hardware and software work together as a system to accomplish tasks.1B-DA-06: Organize and present collected data visually to highlight relationships and support a claim.1B-DA-07: Use data to highlight or propose cause and effect relationships, predict outcomes, or communicate an idea. | |
Problem Solving Practice(s)/Process(s):
| Coding Activities/Lessons:
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| STEM Career Connections: Opportunities are available in business, industry, government, education and research. A few examples are; Allied animal industries (feed and equipment manufacturers, breeding associations, meat processors, food distributors, pharmaceutical firms)Breeding and livestock marketing organizations. Extension educators with animal science training at state and local level. Food processors and meat packers.Veterinarians’ services and clinics. Government agencies (marketing, forecasting, environmental regulation, disease control). | Literature Connections: STEM Jobs in Wildlife Conservation by Emma Berne Genetics Expert Joanna L. KelleyBiodiversity Toolkit |
| Attachments/Student Handouts: Teacher Presentation | |
| Additional Resources/Notes: |