Fun Therapeutic Exercises Using Makey Makey
Are you looking for fun therapeutic exercises for your OT/PT/SLP clients?
Try the Makey Makey!
The Makey Makey device looks like an old school Nintendo Controller; it is a electronic invention device that works by opening and closing a circuit. Just attach any conductive object to the Makey Makey board with alligator clips and connect to the internet to trigger actions to another device! For example, through simple movements with your body, you can trigger sounds, or an action on a software program (see the awesome video below!)
Disability professionals can use the Makey Makey to motivate and engage their clients to participate in fun therapeutic exercises. The device can be used to help clients adopt switch use, and practice their fine motor control, strength and balance activities.
Who Invented the Makey Makey and Why?
The Makey Makey was developed by JoyLabz through MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten. JoyLabz is an Edtech Research and Development Lab specializing in tinkering, invention, and playful learning. The inventors of Makey Makey Jay Silver and Eric Rosenbaum, are inspired by the maker movement and believe that everyone is creative, inventive, and imaginative. Everyone can create the future and change the world.
As a mission based company, JoyLabz is excited to partner with Makers Making Change and Katie and Mark to help spread the word on DIY assistive technology. Their amazing Director of Curriculum, Community, and Creative Content Colleen Graves is joining Makers Making Change in this project!
How Does the Makey Makey Work?
Take a light switch for example: when it flips up, the circuit completes and the light turns on. When the switch flips down, the circuit disconnects, and the light turns off. The Makey Makey works a bit like this, but the best part is, it can be used to attach and substitute other conductive objects to make physical occupational therapy exercise fun! Try out a range of fun objects, like your hand, foot, bananas, conductive ink, playdoh or tinfoil to name a few.
Makers Making Change used the Makey Makey to prototype an adapted controller
Trisha Roffey uses Makey Makey to Electrify Assistive Technology
Using Makey Makey as a Disability Professional
Makers Making Change Chapter leaders Mark Lyons and Katie Butzu started using the Makey Makey for fun therapeutic exercises for kids with disabilities a few year ago. Katie and Mark's fun and engaging projects caught the attention of REMC and their local Bay Arenac ISD in Bay City Michigan. Soon, with their project Creative Makers, they started teaching other disability professionals how to make their exercises more fun and engaging with the Makey Makey!
Here’s an example of one of the projects created by Katie and Mark:
In the above GIF, Katie is using the yoga ball attached to a Makey Makey for a core stabilization exercise. As the ball touches each of the pieces of aluminum tape on the floor, the Makey Makey receives a trigger to set off a sound effect(look at the drum image on the computer screen). This is just one example of the fun therapeutic exercises that are possible with the Makey Makey.
Join Makey Makey for a OT/PT Therapy Intro Session
Join an Intro Session to Become Eligible for the Course
In order to win entry to the course, you must first sign up for one of our intro sessions to learn the basics. In this session, Colleen Graves of Joy Labz, and Katie and Mark will demonstrate various ways to use Makey Makey in both an educational and therapeutic practice.
Those who attend the intro sessions will become eligible to enter the contest to win entry into the full workshop with Katie and Mark. Winners will receive a Makey Makey kit donated by JoyLabz!
Click the link below to register for one of our intro session dates:
Oct 15 5pm EST(live) Oct 20 2pm EST, Oct 22 9am EST Oct 29 1pm EST or Nov 2, 8pm EST
Did you miss these sessions? Send an email to zeek@neilsquire.ca and we will send you a link to watch!
How to Win Entry to the Makey Makey Course
Once you’ve attended one of our intro sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to enter the contest! In your submission, just explain how you’d use the Makey Makey in your practice and who you would use it with. Submissions due by midnight Nov 7 2020.
The top 10-15 entries with the best ideas for use cases will win entry into the course. The course works best when you have a client and specific use case in mind.
Course date: Dec 3 5pm EST 2020.
What Is Included in the Course?
Those with the best use case will win entry to the course and a Makey Makey kit donated by JoyLabz. Winners will also receive aluminum tape and an anti static bracelet from Makers Making Change. These supplies may come in handy for their projects. In the course Katie and Mark will give more in depth look at how to construct projects using the Makey Makey. They will also outline some best practices as well as commonly used materials for conductivity.
After the course, participants will work on their individual projects in their own time. During this time, participants will receive support from Katie, Mark and Colleen through the Makers Making Change Forum.
Participants are requested to document their process in a step by step outline. This way, your project can help people with disabilities in Canada, the US, and all over the world.
What Happens with the Completed Makey Makey Projects?
The Makey Makey Show and Tell
Jan 26 2021 is our Makey Makey Show and Tell. At this webinar, participants will showcase their projects. The participant with the most creative use of the Makey Makey will win the grand prize! Afterwards, we will highlight all projects in a blog. We will also add all designs onto the Makers Making Change website and forum. This way, other disability professionals and their clients will benefit!
Summary:
- Sign up for one of our Intro webinars: Oct 15 5pm EST(live), Oct 20 2pm EST, Oct 22 9am EST Oct 29 1pm EST or Nov 2, 8pm EST
- You will then have the opportunity to submit an application to attend the course.
- If accepted, you'll receive a Makey Makey kit in the mail. Winners win entry to the virtual course on Dec 3 2020. 5-7pm EST.
- Participants will work on their project through Dec and Jan. Help is available from the facilitators in the Makers Making Change forum.
- Jan 26 10am PST is the Makey Makey Show and Tell/Award Announcements.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Zee Kesler Community Coordinator of Makers Making Change at zeek@neilsquire.ca
