Makey Makey is an invention kit for artists, engineers and anyone in between. It allows people to create a touch pad out of everyday objects that connect with the internet to function. Makey Makey is essentially a circuit board with wires that form connections to complete the desired functions you program it to. Programming was an intimidating word for me, but a website called “Scratch” helps simplify programming by assigning puzzle pieces with events and sounds that you put together to create a potential action.
Image of Makey Makey Circuit Board (below):
One way that I have used Makey Makey is by creating an instrument with my sculptural art work (see video below). I created Jellyfish out of wire and steel wool which connected to the internet through my Makey Makey. I created the sounds previously which you can read about in my blog post “8-bit Video Game Sound: Beeps and Boops”. These sounds were uploaded to Scratch where I programmed them to react to my sculpture when touched. This project was very interesting because it brought my jellyfish to life.
If students in high school were given the opportunity to use technology in this same way, they would be able to bring their projects to life with the addition of touch and sound to enhance their art work. When referring to the SAMR Model, this allows students to make augmentations to traditional methods of creating instruments and redefines the noises that can be produced through 8-bit electronics. This would be a helpful assignment to include in a fundamentals class because some students may only be taking art as a requirement. This project lets students who in the past may not have enjoyed art see the way in which art can be combined with engineering to create all types of possibilities. This also encourages students who enjoy music to think about the ways in which the sounds they produce can be translated to a visual form. This is a fantastic project to do with students because it reaches many different interests and teaches students how art can appeal to many of the senses. Makey Makey can be used for many other ideas. This project works as a great first step for students to understand technology with visual art and leads them to new discoveries with Makey Makey and beyond.
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