Conference Presentation: Sending a Code by Light Over a Distance

What do the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II and IBM computer engineers in the 1960s have in common? Well, they both engineered codes that enabled people to communicate messages over a distance. They were also the inspiration for a STEAM unit designed to communicate messages over a distance. They were also the inspiration for a STEAM unit designed to teach elementary school students and pre-service teachers concepts about engineering, energy and matter. In this presentation, you will see how the old ideas of the Navajo Code Talkers and computer engineers were used by students to engineer "squishy circuit" devices that communicated a Navajo word using only light. You will also find out how Chemistry concepts can be taught to young children using "squishy circuits" and computer simulations.

[Link to Presentation]