Dean Aslam

College of Engineering; Professor

Flipped STEM Learning Using Smartphones and Hands-On FBEI (Functionalized Bricks with Embedded Intelligence) Modules

STEM Learning using hands-on Functionalized Bricks with Embedded Intelligence LEGO modules, originally developed by Dean Aslam for NSF ERC at UM/MSU/MTU, were further developed (2018) using Flipped Smartphone STEM (FSS) concept. FSS, unique to MSU, export smartphone sensor data into MATLAB Mobile to plot/study sensors/Microsystems making flipped home learning possible.

Project Solution:

Functionalized Bricks with Embedded Intelligence LEGO modules [1], originally developed by Dean Aslam for NSF ERC at UM/MSU/MTU, were further developed (2018) using Flipped Smartphone STEM (FSS) concept. The proposed hands-on FSS concept, not using PCs and expensive lab equipment, uses smartphones (equipped with 10-12 Microsensors) already owned by young learners worldwide. A number of proposed creative and learner modifiable experiments are (partly already tested in a freshman course):

1. MATLAB Mobile on Smartphone; Import and Plot Data from Built-in Smartphone-Sensors

2. Create an App for Smartphone Using MIT’s App Inventor

3. Build a Digital Microscope Using a small Lens (from a LASER Pointer) and Smartphone

4. Monitoring your Body/Brain Using a Smart Wrist Bracelet and Smartphone

5.Create an App to Control an LED & a LEGO Motor by Smartphone using an MSP430 Microcontroller & a Bluetooth Link

6. Program an Atmega 328 Microcontroller Using a Smartphone-Based IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

Learn more about Dean Aslam (https://www.egr.msu.edu/people/profile/aslam)