Outcomes

• ST3-5WT – plans and implements a design process, selecting a range of tools, equipment, materials and techniques to produce solutions that address the design criteria and identified constraints
• ST3-6PW – describes how scientific understanding about the sources, transfer and transformation of electricity is related to making decisions about its use
• VAS3.2 – Makes artworks for different audiences, assembling materials in a variety of ways

Summative Assessment

At the end of the module, the students will have finished their project. The teacher can go around and assess the students based on their creation and their justification on their assignment.

Formative Assessment

During the module, the teacher uses the reflection period as a means of collecting feedback from students. The teacher then uses the feedback to identify where students may be struggling and revisit the concept in the next lesson.

Additionally, the teacher goes around the class during independent/pair tasks and asks the students questions about the concepts and observes if they are able to self-explain and how well students work in a group environment.

The teacher notes these observations in his/her notebook to assess student progress.

Materials needed for the module 

• 5x STEAM Little Bits sets
• Miscellaneous items to be used for prototyping e.g.

(Little Bits, 2016)

• Sketchbooks
• Student little bits invention books and link
• iPads (one between two)
• Headphones

Lesson 1 

Introduction (2 minutes)

The teacher introduces the module and Little Bits.

Explain to the students that at the end of the module they will be creating their own contemporary interactive artwork using Little Bits and their knowledge of electrical circuits.

Brainstorm (7 minutes)

During this time, the students brainstorm in their groups the set of questions provided to them in Lesson 1.

The teacher regroups the class and has a group discussion about what they talked about in the lesson.

Watch video (4 minutes)

Students then watch the video about circuits as a revision exercise.

Demonstrate (5 minutes)

The teacher demonstrates to the class how Little Bits clips on together and talks about the different functions of each block.

Student experimentation + invention book activities (20 minutes)

Students follow their invention book activities and if they have time towards the end can experiment with different connections with Little Bits. The teacher walks around the classroom and asks questions and observes.

Reflection (5 minutes)

During this time, students reflect on their work and then hand their reflection to the teacher.

Lesson 2 

Revise (2 minutes)

Teacher and students discuss what they did in the last lesson.

Introduction (5 minutes)

The teacher explains to the students what they will be doing in the lesson and how they will be making their own creating using Little Bits guided challenge.

Demonstrate (5 minutes)

The teacher then demonstrates to the class how to follow the instructions in the manual and the different options students can take depending on their skill and confidence level with Little Bits.

Paired task (35 minutes)

Students have the opportunity to create their own guided challenge in their Little Bits invention book. The teacher walks around and asks students questions about what they are doing and observes.

Reflect (5 minutes)

Students reflect upon the lesson and hand it to the teacher.

Lesson 3

Revise (2 minutes)

Teacher and students discuss what they did in the last lesson.

Introduction (2 minutes)

The teacher explains to the students that they will be constructing an interactive art installation using the guided challenge that they completed in the last lesson.

Demonstrate (5 minutes)

The teacher shows some ideas on the board of what they could make. Suggests ideas like decorating with the materials at the front of the room and modifying the Little Bits blocks. Ask students to discuss with their pairs ideas and make a rough sketch of what they are to do.

Discussion + rough sketch (5 minutes)

In their pairs, students discuss the questions set out for them on the lesson 3 page. They brainstorm ideas for their artwork and how they are going to execute their idea. The teacher goes around and discusses the ideas with each of the pairs and observes the students as they proceed with their activity.

Pair task (30 minutes)

In pairs, the students create their artwork which they brainstormed and sketched in the previous activity. The teacher walks around and asks questions and observes the students during this task.

Reflect (5 minutes)

Students reflect on their work and the reflection is handed to the teacher.

The teacher reads each of the justifications on their art description to see if the students have utilised contemporary art conventions and have identified their respective audience and assess if the students have created an installation which utilises art conventions and/or appropriation.

NOTE: The teacher’s guide that comes with the STEAM Little Bits kit is quite useful, so if you wish to use it to make some variation on the class I recommend you use it. You can find it here. The student guide can also be found here.