When I first saw the Makey Makey, I didn’t know quite what to expect. It’s supposed to be an extension of my computer’s keyboard and almost anything can be attached to it. I decided to give it a try and test out what this board could do. I followed the instructions in the box. It was daunting just looking at all these multicolored wires but it was actually really simple to put together. While it didn’t completely replace my keyboard, it was a great tool to use to have fun with my computer.
Wanting to explore the Makey Makey more, I tried out different materials for extensions. I tried water since it's conductive. It was fun dipping my finger in the water and being able to control the arrow keys this way—I didn’t even get shocked! By the way, some materials aren’t as conductive as others. I used some post-it notes and they did not work. A pear didn’t work until I peeled the skin off. But I was excited to try out other items: coins, pens, utensils, my friend, plastic bags, bananas.
I also used wet paper towels and they worked well although my desk did get a bit messy and damp. Then, once I got comfortable with the original concept, I used Bare Conductive Electric Paint to craft a makeshift mini directional pad on small pieces of paper. I attached the clips to the paint and it worked like a charm! I was able to create a fun new way of moving the arrow keys using the spacebar and even the left click on my computer.
Just having the opportunity to learn in this matter was a great experience. I couldn’t stop experimenting; I rediscovered conductivity with this toy—and it was amazing. I didn’t have to read a thick book to learn, I had the chance to physically test which materials actually worked. And while testing everything out, I got to experiment and explore which just makes learning even more fun!
It was quite exciting using the Makey Makey for the first time and I had to trace back to my second grade education. What is conductivity? Which materials are conductive and which not? Why? All these questions were running through my mind and I felt like a scientist on a verge of discovery. I wish this product was around back when I was younger! Click below to buy a Makey Makey from the Eduporium store!
