Music Out of the Box

What it does

Using the concept of copyright-free open source as design goal. We integrate computer, art, and music classes using easily accessible materials and easy-to-make components. Designing a set of music teaching aids that can be accessed, made and used by anyone.

Your inspiration

Most countries uses subjects to design courses. This method sometimes causes knowledge losses continuity between subjects. As a result, Countries started to use thematic teaching to design courses in order to reduce the boundaries between subjects.

How it works

Using thematic teaching as the access point. Combining the content of computer science, art, and music curriculums. Arranging the contents into a systematic course. Using the idea of open source to let teachers access the materials online. Teaching students about how to work with sensors, method of structures, at last the kit for learning playing instruments. Design can be separate into three sections. Hardware sensors, software composing, and exterior design. By combining different sensors like buzzers, micro switches, or touch sensors. Simulation the operation of different instruments. Using Arduino as the micro processor cause easy access and getting started. Using Arduino as the software editing platform. C Programming Language can be easier for creators to cooperate. Easy access and easy processing make cardboard the choice of exterior design.

Design process

The design process started with having interviews with elementary school students. Understanding the circumstances at the teaching field. Including the arrangement of courses, the distribution of resources, adaptability between different subjects. Combining the informations. Testing the electronic components and writing codes. Finding the best components by its’ operation and price tag. Designing the exterior by the way of operation. Testing the process of assembling, and whether the device is durable enough. Gather feedbacks through workshop in school. Testing the real world situation. By how the students understands the design, the problems they create when operate, and how the device performs. In the end combining the whole design process into a set of textbooks that can be used as a teaching kit for education institutes.

How it is different

There are a lot of wall designed STEAM teaching kits on the market. But being sold as a product made them difficulty for lot of people to reach. In order to reach the design to more users. The design uses the concept of copyright-free open source. Users can get and use the design without paying any price. After using the design, users can change their role into a developer. Building their version of design on top of the concept. Transfer the design into different appearances.

Future plans

Phase one of the design development is to release the design flies to the public. Gathering feedbacks from the publics can be used in phase two of the design. Hope to turn the development from an independent creation into a group creation in the second phase. Developers from everywhere can create their own device to meet their own’s need. Hope to scale-up the creation to reach into more developers. Using the concept as a starting point. Creating a greater community, making more people to engage with the project, spreading the idea to different corners in the world. Making more student to experience different aspect of education.

Awards

Vision Get Wild Award | Product Design Category | Golden Award Young Pin Design Award | Product Design Category | Awarded