3. Field Activity 03

Project Description:

In this project, students will design and build a personalized LED night lamp using laser-cut materials and an Adafruit microcontroller. They’ll incorporate design elements (in this case a theme such as sports or any particular interest of theirs), assemble the lamp, and program the lights to change colors. This project introduces students to basic digital fabrication, physical computing, and coding.

Learning Objectives: Understand how to use a laser cutter to create interlocking structures.

Learn how to wire and control LEDs using an Adafruit board.

Practice basic coding with MakeCode (or Arduino) to control LED colors and behavior.

Apply artistic and engineering principles to create a functional product.

Gain exposure to project-based learning by completing a creative, hands-on project.

Materials Needed: Laser cutter

MDF wood or cardboard

Adafruit Circuit Playground Express (or similar board)

USB cable for programming

Laser-cut SVG file of what students would like to incorporate

Interlocking cube structure file

Hot glue or tape (if necessary for support)

Step 1: Sketch & Plan Brainstorm lamp shape and which side will feature the Miami Heat logo.

Sketch your cube and placement of the logo and lights.

Step 2: Design in Inkscape Open Inkscape and import the press-fit cube SVG template.

Add the Miami Heat logo SVG to one or more cube faces.

Make sure your logo is sized and positioned for good detail in laser cutting.

Save each panel as an individual SVG file for cutting.

Step 3: Laser Cut Panels Use laser cutter to cut out the six cube panels from cardboard or MDF.

Check tab alignment before assembling.

Step 4: Assemble the Cube Interlock the cube pieces using the tabs.

Leave the top face open for electronics access.

Optionally use tape or glue for extra strength.

Step 5: Set Up the Adafruit Circuit Gather Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, alligator clips, and LED strip (optional).

Connect lights:

GND → LED ground

VOUT → LED power

A1 → LED signal

Place the board inside the lamp (Velcro, tape, or zip ties).

Step 6: Program with MakeCode Open makecode.adafruit.com

Create a program that:

Alternates between red and orange lights every second.

Plays the “Miami Dolphins #1” theme song (optional with music blocks).

Download the .uf2 file and drag it to your Adafruit board.

Step 7: Final Assembly Close the cube completely.

Power the lamp via USB or battery.

Test lights and sound.

Collaboration: Reflect on how you worked with colleagues or FLA participants during the Field Activity. What steps did you take to involve collaborators? How did this collaboration influence the outcome of your final lesson plan?

I didn’t collaborate with other FLA participants or colleagues for this activity—my focus was on working directly with my students. Their engagement and feedback played a huge role in shaping the lesson. I was able to adjust the project in real time based on their interests, skill levels, and any challenges they faced. While collaborating with other educators could have added an interdisciplinary aspect, I found that working closely with my students allowed me to fine-tune the lesson to better suit their needs.

Instructional Challenges: What challenges did you encounter or anticipate while teaching this lesson? How did you address or plan to address them? Were there, or do you anticipate, specific areas where students might struggle with the technology or content?

One of the main instructional challenges I encountered was the inconsistency in student attendance and class scheduling. Since I only meet with each group for about an hour per week and not all students are present every session, I had to adapt by spreading the project across multiple classes and working in phases. This meant that some students were joining the activity at different points, which made it harder to maintain continuity. To address this, I selected a theme that I knew would resonate with the majority of my students—American football and, more specifically, the Miami Dolphins. This shared interest helped keep students engaged and provided a unifying thread that made it easier for new or returning students to plug back into the project. While some students struggled with the technical aspects of coding or connecting hardware, the excitement around the shared theme helped motivate them to ask questions, help each other, and push through challenges.

Diversity: How will you accommodate and support students with diverse learning levels, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds in this lesson?

To support diversity in my lessons, I lean into shared interests as a way to unify students from different backgrounds and learning levels. With limited time each week and rotating groups, I focus on accessibility—offering clear visuals, step-by-step guidance, and flexible roles within the project. Using a theme like the Miami Dolphins helped create a theme and allowed each student to engage at their own pace and creative choices, whether through design or coding.

Teacher Growth: How has this experience influenced your approach to integrating technology, such as digital fabrication, into your teaching? What new skills or strategies have you developed as a result?

This experience has expanded the way I think about using technology creatively in the classroom. I’ve started designing lessons that combine digital fabrication with student interests and culture, which makes the tech feel more personal and relevant. It’s taught me to view digital fabrication not just as a technical skill, but as a powerful medium for student expression.

AI Usage: If you used AI, reflect on how it can be leveraged to enhance your teaching. How does collaborating with AI compare to collaborating with a colleague?

I didn’t test this lesson with AI, but in the future I see its value for refining lessons, generating ideas, and providing feedback.

• Mkdocs Material theme
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Code Example

Use the three backticks to separate code.

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
}

Gallery

Example video

Example Table

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Text	Text	Text

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