The XinaBox Virtual STEM workshops engage students by combining the practical, hands-on experience of technology and scientific experimentation, with virtual collaboration, learning and research. The course structure comprises Lessons (L), Experiments (E) and Activities (A). In preparation for each workshop, students are given links to content and videos relating to the topics to be covered.
Students submit experiment reports during the course and prizes are awarded for the highest quality contributions. Recommended from 9 to 18 years of age and requires the XK01 STEM Starter kit to participate.
An on-boarding session is held in advance of the workshops to ensure that all participants have their kits running and are comfortable with the virtual mode of delivery.
On-boarding session
- Introductions
- Does everyone have their kit?
- The sessions over the next few weeks, topic and experiments to be covered
- L1 About XinaBox and xChips
- A1 Build the kit, read data from the OLED screen
Getting Going
- Introduction to your kit
- L2 Data collection and planning
- E1 - is there a relationship between natural light and temperature?
- Feedback on E1
- L3 Light, UV, Visible light and Infrared, properties and characteristics
- A2 Connect the kit to Wifi and internet, see data on dashboard
- Introduction to IoT
- Feedback on A2, is kit connected to Wifi?
- L4 Understanding IoT, how Wifi and internet connections work
- L5 Kibana dashboard tricks
- A3 Build personal dashboard
- E2 - Does the fridge light go off when we close the door?
- IoT in practice
- Feedback on E2
- L6 Infrared heating and the greenhouse effect
- A4 Recap of natural light and temperature experiment, now using the dashboard
- L7 More Kibana techniques, downloading data and analysis
- E3 - monitoring a micro-climate, track all data available from the kit, and develop conclusions
On Earth
- Micro-climate interactions
- Feedback on E3, share dashboards
- L8 Relationships between temperature, RH% and atmospheric pressure
- L9 Role of vegetation, processes, humidity and energy
- E4 - do sunscreen products work?
- Discovery through data
- Feedback on E4
- L10 Data validation, correlations, outliers
- L11 Scientific method, developing hypotheses
- A5 Set up for daybreak experiment
- E5 - Does it still get colder after daybreak?
- Our Earth in Context - Solar Eclipse
- Interim feedback on E5 (Is the data being collected overnight and through dawn?)
- L12 Solar eclipse mechanics, orbits
- L13 Solar eclipse data collected, dashboard
- A6 save own eclipse dashboard and modify for analysis
- E6 - Analyse eclipse data to find relationships, where was the data collected?
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Feedback on E6
- L14 recap what we learned about micro-climates and how they apply to the eclipse data
- Progress feedback on E5
- L15 considerations for analysis daybreak data
- E5 - Conduct and conclude - Does it still get colder after daybreak?
Off Planet
- Living in Habitats
- Feedback on E5
- L16 Living off planet, habitats
- A7 - Antarctica dashboard and data
- L17 Antarctica video and what it's like being in the habitat
- L18 Earth's magnetic field
- A8 - Questions for Antarctica team
- Designing a habitat
- Feedback on questions for team on Antarctica
- L19 ISS mission
- A9 ISS data on dashboard, analysis, discussion
- L 20 Human comfort levels, sustaining life
- E7 - How comfortable is my home?
- A10 Design a habitat in your home , what do you need to consider?
- Conclusion
- Feedback on E7 and A10
- L21 Living on the Moon and Mars
- Recap of last 10 sessions
- Mega Assignment/challenge
XinaBox arranges an awards ceremony for students to receive their experiment prizes and certificates.
Registration for the workshops is required, for more information contact Judi at js@xinabox.cc.
