“Digital Homes Design: Associate Professor Ning Zhou Guides Students in Innovative STEP Workshops
The idea of a smart house in videogame survival mode is not only intriguing but also extremely practical. In the face of a zombie apocalypse, a password-protected, self-sustainable home would offer years of protection. This is why students in Binghamton University’s Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) are learning how to build their own smart houses in Minecraft, a popular videogame.
Under the guidance of Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Ning Zhou, these students are gaining valuable skills in design, engineering, and sustainability. This is particularly important for students who are economically disadvantaged or from historically underrepresented minority populations, as STEP seeks to increase their readiness for post-secondary education in STEM fields or licensed professions. Through Minecraft, they are able to explore the possibilities of smart homes and apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios.
By learning how to build smart houses in Minecraft, these students are not only developing technical skills, but they are also gaining confidence and a sense of empowerment. As they learn to navigate the digital world of Minecraft, they are also learning to navigate the challenges of the real world. This is just one example of how innovative approaches to education can have a profound impact on students’ lives and their future success. With the guidance of dedicated instructors like Associate Professor Ning Zhou, the students in Binghamton University’s STEP program are well on their way to becoming the next generation of STEM professionals.
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Binghamton University’s STEP program is taking an innovative approach to educating local youth about the importance of STEM education. Led by a faculty member in the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, the program aims to provide students with a fun and engaging way to learn about electrical engineering basics.
Using Minecraft as an educational tool, students are able to build and design their own smart homes while integrating complex power systems into their designs. This unique approach allows students to learn about electrical engineering in a way that is both interactive and applicable to the real world.
The program consists of Saturday morning class sessions that last for six weeks. Each session begins with a lecture from the program leader that focuses on different electrical engineering basics and their application in smart house design. Following the lectures, students are given time to work on their smart houses and make additions based on the learning objective of the session.
One of the program’s main objectives is to increase students’ awareness of job opportunities in the electrical engineering field. By the end of the program, students are able to create fully sustainable smart houses that incorporate power-grid technology and encrypted password protection systems.
At the end of the program, a competition is held where students present their finished smart houses. The competition evaluates students based on a rubric that takes into account their presentation, structural design of their smart houses, inclusion of power-grid technology, and implementation of a password protection system.
The winning student is awarded a solar-powered robotic car, which is received with great enthusiasm. The program hopes that by exposing students to the world of electrical engineering in a fun and engaging way, they will become more comfortable with these systems and be inspired to pursue further education in this field.
The program is particularly important for historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged middle and high school students who may not have access to this kind of education. By broadening
