Makey-Makey

1. What did we do?

In class we worked on completing a interactive art work with “makey-makey”. We used a previously created scratch project and connected the makey-makey to the computer using the USB cord to make it interactive using sort sort of physical artwork. For my project, I made a paper landscape similar to how the scratch project looks that I made. I made an animation on scratch of a chicken who has a walk cycle and then lays an egg. However, I did not complete the project with the makey-makey because I was working in scratch to get the walk cycle to look correct. Dr. Justice helped me with this. At first I was getting really confused with it but now I can break it down in segments and I understand it better.

After my classmates finished with their makey-makey creations, we walked around the room to see each one as their artwork was interacted with. Someone had a 3D piece with conductive thread, there were projects with added audio, a cool banana party and many more neat creations. It was very interesting to see what everyone made.

2.What did you learn?

I learned about makey-makey and all of the different ways that you can make an interactive artwork with this tool. I also learned how to make a walk cycle in scratch, I had been trying to figure it out for a while now but after sitting down and analyzing the movements in sequence, I can understand it better.

3.What do you want to know now?

Well I did not have enough time to connect my scratch drawing to the makey-makey, so I’d really like to try it out with my animated chicken that I made in scratch. I have decided to use makey-makey for my impossible project, so this would be a good opportunity to practice on my scratch project before I start my impossible project.

4.How might we work with these tools in classrooms?

In classrooms, students could do many things including what I am planning to do for my impossible project, which is to make a musical instrument. The makey-makey brings so many opportunities and can inspire a lot of different ideas for artwork.