Ske Course Day 8

Today we were introduced to the idea of electronic textiles (e-textiles), and how you could teach this subject mash up to students.

As an introduction to the topic we were split into groups of three and used a 'tinkering' kit to make a simple circuit board using a flat cell battery, two crocodile clips, an LED that can be sewn onto fabric, and a small piece of conductive fabric. With no instruction, we set out to make a circuit. As a group, we tended to use trial and error, swaying towards prior knowledge to help us.

 Electro-fasion power board from Kitronik

 Creating the circuit using the power board

We then moved onto incorporating soft switches, made simply from felt, netting and conductive fabric. this slotted into the circuit previously created. We also looked at soft battery casings for when flat batteries are used; again these were created from felt and conductive fabric, but also used conductive threads.

Being able to then make our own switches and battery casings allowed us to form a link between a

scheme of work to introduce the topic, and how the students being taught will form their own

learning. 

 Using a soft switch to complete the circuit

              Using a soft battery casing 

  Example of a soft battery casing 

 Pieces required for the switch

 Conductive thread by Kitronik

 Pieces needed for the battery casing

 Fabric switch attached to circuit

The overall goal for this morning session was to allow us to explore schemes of work, how they can be applied to topics, and how you, as the teacher, can use kits and introductory tasks to introduce KS3 students (the scheme of work we followed was aimed at Y7) to the idea of combining electronics with textiles.

On completing the task and realising that not only did our 'tinkering' practice work, but the soft switches and casings worked too, we all felt a sense of achievement. Electronics is something that some in the group feel at home with, and some are learning as they go, so it's nice that we can build on each others insights and knowledge to really create something quite cool, and that the students will hopefully find exciting to make and learn more about.


In the afternoon we went to the Kitronik offices in Nottingham and were introduced to their products, and a live brief. Working in groups, we will design and make something around the topic of 'Being Visible'. Kitronik are providing us with some of their components from the Electro Fashion range to help us complete this task. We have to create a video tutorial on how to make part of the circuit (this will be given to us by our tutor), produce the item, and create an instructables page on how to make our product at home. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into this project!