Physics classroom module
Bug Labs won a Phase 1 NSF SBIR grant to create a module for physics experiments in the classroom. This research project aims to develop the hardware, software, and integrated curriculum on a hand held hardware module that contains a physics workbook, called BUGbook. It will evolve to a toolset that includes a combination of instruction, measurement, inquiry, and design. PhysBUG addresses the current concern about advancing students as scientifically literate citizens. The innovation is the combination of Rogers/Danahy’s patent-pending workbook concept, on-board curriculum, and the inclusiveness of sensors to satisfy exploratory experimental needs of students on one piece of hardware. Overall, PhysBUG innovates the ways which experiments are completed and logged within a classroom. PhysBUGs are an extension of the miniBUG project, using a smaller microcontroller platform rather than the full BUGbase computer.
Innovation
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop PhysBUG, a hand held hardware module that contains a physics workbook on the device, called BUGbook, that will evolve to a toolset that includes a combination of instruction, measurement, inquiry, and design. PhysBUG address the current concern about advancing students as scientifically literate citizens. PhysBUG will solve the problem by teaching students to balance traditional content learning and knowing when and how to apply the learning using PhysBUG as a toolset for both types of learning in a singular device. PhysBUG removes the abstraction of using multiple devices to attain, understand and chart data. The innovation is the combination of Rogers/Danahy’s patent-pending workbook concept, on-board curriculum, and the inclusiveness of sensors to satisfy exploratory experimental needs of students on one piece of hardware. Overall, PhysBUG innovates the ways which experiments are completed and logged within a classroom.
Broader Impacts
The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential create an open source providing the opportunity for a growing community to enhance and modify the hardware as well as personalizing and improving the design. Open source devices are lacking from the science education market and much can be learned with the basis of open hardware. Our target market is high school science teachers. The end goal of this research is a $60 USD module, the PhysBUG, which will be available for purchase. Sixty dollars USD is an attainable amount for educational institutions, making the device more competitive in that market. The research collected will allow the company to tweak their design and find other markets to expand which include other curriculum and hardware-based educational platforms, leveraging the open-source nature of all BUG products.
| This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under SBIR Phase I Grant No. 1047154. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF). |  |
Collaborators
Alicia Gibb, Principal Investigator
Bug Labs, New York, New York
Dr. Ethan Danahy, Principal Investigator @ Tufts
Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach, Medford, Massachusetts
Dr. Chris Rogers, Advisor
Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach, Medford, Massachusetts
Andrew Tergis, Electrical Engineer
Bug Labs, New York, New York
Dr. Dan Steingart, Badass
Department of Chemical Engineering at the City College of New York, New York, New York
William Church, High School Physics Teacher
Littleton High School, Littleon, New Hampshire
Timothy Jones, High School Physics Teacher
Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design, Brooklyn, New York
Research Findings
Major Research Findings Included:
Conclusions:
PhysicsBUG (image 1) is an inexpensive data collection device for high-school physics classrooms. The device senses distance using an ultrasonic sensor and movement along three axes with an on-board accelerometer. It wirelessly transmits data to BUGBooks (image 2), a browser-based application for viewing, sharing and manipulating the data within an interactive digital curriculum.
Teacher quote: “The PhysicsBUGs were inexpensive enough for the students to really play around with and take advantage of the flexibility of PhysBUG. The PhysBUG allowed for more spontaneity and students’ self-directed experiments. At a low price point, a durable PhysBUG device will encourage student creativity in their experimental designs.” (Images 3 & 4)
Because PhysicsBUG uses a browser interface, and the devices are portable, the system encourages student experimentation and self-directed learning in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom.
One high-school student even created an innovative housing design for the
PhysicsBUG in his spare time (image 5).
Image 1
Image 2
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Image 5
PhysBUG is made of Open Source Hardware
PhysBUG supports the OSHW Definition: