What is the Kookaberry and how can it be used ?
The Kookaberry is a digital educational tool that sits between the Raspberry Pi and micro:bit in both functionality and price point.
The Kookaberry was designed in Australia as a low cost open source technology platform for primary school teachers and students to use in conjunction with their normal lesson plans.
Its low cost sensors; data logging capability; screen; and ease of programming for specific applications; make it an ideal tool for STEM activities in secondary schools as well.
It has the benefit of being influenced by many competent and successful examples such as the Arduino and microBit. a tour around the Kookaberry →
A fundamental design philosophy of the Kookaberry is that it needs to come out of its box and be used in a learning plan, then packed away all in under an hour.
No software coding... just run engaging and fun STEM applications that make students think and enquire about what is being achieved – and have fun at the same time
Enhancing the STEM curriculum
The Kookaberry can be used to
- Observe, measure, store and display environmental data (Science and scientific thinking)
- Demonstrate the interdependence of components in a digital system (Technologies and systems thinking)
- Refine a design based on evaluation and testing (Engineering and design thinking)
- Gather real world data for numerical analysis and statistics (Mathematics and working mathematically)
- Design and implement algorithms to solve problems (Computational thinking)
- Control external devices (Robotics)
- Make the normally invisible technology visible (Technologies)
- Demonstrate wireless networks (Digital Technologies)
- Edit and run code on the Kookaberry in real time (Digital Technologies)
- Support integrated learning (All subjects).
Storing measured data
The Kookaberry stores measured values over time in a little semiconductor memory chip on the board
This is called data logging.
These values can be transferred to a PC as an Excel file for later display, visualisation, and analysis.
Project based learning
The Kookaberry can be used in practical learning projects as diverse as weather stations, art installations, mathematical games, physical fitness, and musical experimentation.
The weather station used in the Mini-Meteororologists learning plan uses a cardboard anenometer based on a fidget spinner and an optical sensor with an all-up cost of less than $5.
Working with LittleBits
The Kookaberry is compatible with LittleBit building blocks. The interface board converts between the LittleBits and Kookaberry signals and power supplies.
Run the MoveMusic app on the Kookaberry and listen on the powerful LittleBits speaker!
Access all areas
The Kookaberry breakout board makes every input and output pin easily available via Kookaberry standard jst connectors.
It can be powered by a variety of power sources up to 9 volts.