Sucre4Stem: proyectos colaborativos mediante dispositivos IoT para el alumnado de secundaria y pre-universitario

Abstract

This paper describes a new technological evolution of the Sucre project, which aims to promote scientific vocations, develop computational thinking and programming skills in pre-university students. The improved version is called Sucre4Stem and has been designed from the Internet of Things perspective. At a technological level, we differentiate two main tools, SucreCore and SucreCode. SucreCore provides a new, more compact design, encapsulates an advanced microcontroller, and supports wireless connectivity with the ability to create online variables and functions. SucreCode, the blockbased visual programming tool, has a revamped interface and allows wireless communication with SucreCore. At the pedagogical level, Sucre4Stem makes it easier to undertake new group dynamics and create novel types of collaborative projects between groups of students. In this article, we also explore how these collaborative projects can be realised by taking advantage of the different types of communications between SucreCore and the server-side platform using shared online variables and functions.