When curiosity is sparked...

For years, my Design for Social Good class has focused on building assistive technology devices, specifically computer switches for people with disabilities such as quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. These projects have been meaningful for students, giving them the chance to learn CAD, 3D modeling, 3D printing, soldering, circuit board development, and coding. They have also helped students think about how design intersects with real human needs.

Much of our earlier work centered on creating instructions and publishing them online. For example, our work with Makey Makey was featured here. Students also published guides on Instructables that allowed caregivers and teachers to build simple switches. And for those ready to go beyond Makey Makey, we have an archive of Arduino Leonardo hub systems here.

​These projects were important, but they often stopped short of true service. Students were convinced they were helping by making instructions, but in reality they were not directly interfacing with the people who rely on these devices. Pairing students with individual users has not been sustainable either, since it depends on me connecting them to someone.

This year we are moving in a new direction. Instead of limiting ourselves to pseudodesign service, we are partnering with Makers Making Change. Through this organization, students can publish their switch designs to a community where real users can request devices. Makers are then paired with those requests. This adds a direct service element to our curriculum and allows students to see their work move from idea, to prototype, to something used by a person who needs it.

The concept of a switch may seem simple, but designing one that is user-friendly, durable, and creative opens the door to complex learning. Students practice soldering, electronics, coding, and design thinking while also considering the medical and human applications of engineering. From air pressure systems to joystick capacity, small design choices lead to big creative outcomes.
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You can follow our past and current work through this link collection. It includes our websites, Instructables, and now our contributions to Makers Making Change. For a behind-the-scenes look at how ideas take shape in the classroom, you can browse our Google Photos album, which shows the iteration process in real time.The hope is that by building for real users, students will see their design work not only as practice, but as direct contribution.I’m always amazed by my students’ creativity.

​The image below shows a DIY "Sip-and-Puff" controller they built with custom 3D-printed parts and a MakeyMakey. Expect more posts on this project as we continue through the semester. I highly recommend introducing your STEM students to adaptive controllers and assistive technology in general. It’s rewarding work and such a natural way to put purposeful design into action.

​This lab activity takes students on a unique journey through the world of neuroscience and engineering to explore the complex nature of Parkinson's Disease. Students will simulate the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease firsthand by experiencing disruptions in motor control aimed to foster empathy for those living with the condition. Integrating biochemistry, neuroscience, and engineering principles, this lesson is a powerful tool for inspiring the next generation of scientists and empathetic individuals. 

My high school students are creating assistive devices for visually impaired individuals using the Arduino Uno platform. This project focuses on developing innovative digital mobility aids, utilizing ultrasonic sensors and small servo motors. These aids are designed to enhance spatial awareness for visually impaired users through sound and tactile feedback, alerting them to nearby objects. I am hopeful that this initiative provides practical, real-world applications of technology but also attempts instills a deep sense of empathy and innovation in my students.

In our Design for Social Good class, students were given a final project challenge: to apply their CAD, electronics, and Robotics skills to simulate robotics' applications in military and law enforcement. Our specific task was to create a user-friendly CAD-designed controller housing an Arduino Leonardo. This controller could remotely operate a robot, simulating the disarmament of a hypothetical explosive. Students controlled their robots from a different location by using their phones as cameras, which were mounted on the robots. They streamed video to their control station through platforms like Zoom or FaceTime. To understand the project instructions and grading criteria, click here. For documentation, students recorded their streamed video and added voice-over narration to explain the process. Below is an example:

This will be my third year teaching an elective course called "Design for Social Good". This summer I assigned myself the task of creating the entire curriculum in the form of a student digital workbook. The curriculum uses Fusion360 as an anchor, integrating CAD into various projects centered around Assistive Technology, Medicine, and Robotics. Additionally, I tired to integrate AI into the curriculum in meaningful ways, asking students to generate YouTube shorts using ChatGPT and Pictory I am hopeful that this curriculum provides a unified and organized space for students to engage in the curriculum. Because students will be copying and sharing their own workbooks, I am slightly nervous about how to push out to students the inevitable tweaks to the curriculum I will make throughout the year. Live and learn I suppose! Click here to access the curriculum. Note: Links to Fusion360 homework assignments can be found in the heading of each page.