2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The implementation of NGSS in the United States has incorporated engineering practices in science education. Elementary and secondary science teachers must find ways to expose students to engineering in ways that are accessible and age-appropriate. In order to attract more students to engineering as a field of study and career path, it is important to offer outreach programs that are both educational and inspirational. Our university-based outreach program introduces students to fundamental engineering concepts through the design, implementation and optimization of a smart night light. The program is designed to be customizable for students in grades 4 through 12 and further tailored to the learning skills and available time of the participating groups. Furthermore, the program emphasizes hands-on learning while integrating engineering principles such as the engineering design process, electrical circuits, basic coding, and microcontroller programming. At the end of this program, students assemble a functional smart night light with four distinct operational modes, reinforcing their understanding of the practical applications of engineering.

Participants begin by exploring the engineering design process, learning how engineers identify problems, brainstorm solutions, design prototypes, and use the iterative process to improve their designs. This process is woven throughout the program as students use it to guide the creation of their night lights. They learn about the components of electrical circuits, including resistors, LEDs, and sensors, and use a breadboard to create a basic circuit for their project. There is an option for students to gain hands-on experience with soldering techniques .

As part of the program, students may also use a block-based coding language, which allows them to learn how to control the behavior of the microcontroller that powers the night light. Depending on the students’ grade level, coding can be part of the learning lesson and can range from simple light-sensor-triggered responses for younger students, to more complex programming for older participants. This flexibility ensures that the program is both challenging and age-appropriate, regardless of the students' prior knowledge.

The program is designed to be delivered in various formats to accommodate the needs of different schools and organizations. It can be conducted in-person at the university’s dedicated engineering outreach lab, in person at school district facilities, or remotely using a packaged kit of materials and online instruction. Furthermore, the program's duration can be adapted, ranging from a 3-hour introductory session to a more in-depth 6-hour workshop, providing educators with the flexibility to integrate the program into their curricula or as a stand-alone experience.

In summary, this program offers students a comprehensive introduction to engineering through an engaging, hands-on project. By constructing a smart night light, students gain practical experience in the engineering design process, electrical circuit assembly, block-based coding, and microcontroller programming, while cultivating their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This adaptable program is well-suited for a variety of educational settings and timeframes, making it an accessible and enriching opportunity for aspiring young engineers.

This work was funded through the NSF Division on Research in Learning.