Planting AwarenessEva AndritsopoulouCarl-Erik KopsengTorbein Rein

Introduction

Web-based teaching tool for monitoring plant growth under different environmental conditions

Integrates technology in the learning process

What

● Builds on previous work; Plantagotchi● Web application to monitor plant growth● Made specifically for classroom use● Monitor how plants react under different

environmental circumstances over time

For Whom

● Students from the lower secondary sector (age 13-14)

● Part of a teacher’s educational method

● Elective course - science specialization

Why● Interest in applications for learning process● Wanted to build a working application of a

reasonable size● Discover how the physical world can connect

with the virtual one (through Arduino/sensor technology)

● Make students more engaged in the learning procedure

RequirementsConducted informal meeting with Mr Ole Andreas, a teacher at St. Sunniva.

After our discussion the following list of requirements was derived:

Requirements (1)

● Involve children in the process○ visit our university (UiO) ○ be present when we set up the plant○ able to pick the variables to change

Requirements (2)● Graphs should have a limited amount of

data points○ user group is unfamiliar with graphs○ fewer data points in the graphs ○ smoothed and simplified curves○ one graph for each monitored parameter

Requirements (3)● The sensor data should be downloadable

in a format suitable for Excel○ students use Excel when writing reports○ eases creation of graphs

Requirements (4)● More than one set of plants and sensors

required○ Needed for comparative study

Application-Architectures

Application-Technologies

● CanJS (MVC framework)

● jQuery (browser abstraction layer)

● Twitter Bootstrap (layout components)

How it works● Three main views

○ Plantevalg○ Dag for dag○ Dag

● Functionalities

Plantevalg (Home page)

Dag for dag

Dag

● Invited the class to IFI● Purpose: impress the kids● Tour ended in SONEN

○ displaying robots○ 3D printers○ self-made arcade machine

● Mission accomplished!

Project startup@IFI

3D printers = wow factor

Presentation cont.: Sensors

Presentation cont.: Sensors

Presentation cont.: Sensors

Evaluation● Data gathering was problematic

○ School issues pushed project startup○ Project ended 4 days before delivery

● Some remote testing by teacher ● Performed a semi-structured interview with

the teacher at end of project● Teacher regarded the project a success!

Evaluation cont. ● The system did see use

in the classroom for learning

● Would be nice to have at school

● Too unstable at this point: commercial alternatives?

Video was a BIG hit, but ...

The UX could be improved● It turned out that video would not play on

otherwise identical computers● There was a bug in the navigation, but was

easy to work around● The graph navigation should be sticky● Disabled caching caused performance

issues

Retrospect

Divergence from the initial plan● User involvement did not see manifestation

○ Too limited time○ Limited access to users

(students/teacher)● From many to just one variable

○ Cost issue

Future work

● Does the application actually increase the effects of learning?

● Finding ways of reducing the cost - are there ways of using commercially available alternatives? Using Mindstorms sets?

Reuse of Mindstorms sets?

Thank you!