Loporan Projek SMSSP-The Smart Table

Solar Smart Table for Future Classroom1Nurhadirah Azlinda Binti Mohamad Nor, 2Nur Arina Binti Borhannudin

Teacher Advisor: 3Ding Hong EngSekolah Menengah Sains Seri Puteri

Jalan Kolam Air51200 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

[email protected]@yahoo.com

Abstract — This portable Solar Smart Table combines the features of cooling, lighting, energy supply and USB hub for the convenience and comfort of the users. The energy source is a Power Bank which can be charged by using three different types of charges: the Portable Solar Panel Charger, the Solar PV / Generator (Dual Mode) Charger and the DIY Solar Power Charger. The polycrystalline silicon solar panel converts solar radiation into electricity when the embedded photovoltaic cells are exposed to light. In the Dual Mode Charger, Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction was applied to charge the Power Bank. An experiment was carried out to determine the duration of time that the power bank can be used after charging with these three different types of charges. Solar Smart Table is essential for future ICT-based classroom where every student is equipped with a laptop or iPad with electronic textbooks. With the Solar Smart Tables, the classroom setting is flexible to enable creative and innovative student-based activities. The teaching and learning can be conducted anywhere that provides an inspiring environment. A user survey was conducted to obtain the information regarding the users’ satisfaction of using Smart Table. Solar Smart Table for future classroom is eco-friendly as it reduces the use of conventional paper-based textbooks. Thus, the carbon dioxide emission is minimised and many trees can be saved. Smart Table has high commercial value as the usage of green and sustainable technology leads to a better tomorrow.

Keywords— Future classroom, smart table, green technology, sustainable energy sources.

I. INTRODUCTION

A future classroom should not be confined to the four walls of the building. It may be in the museum for a history class, in the zoo or botanical garden for a biology class, in the science centre for a physics class and in the art gallery for an art class. Such a mobile setting presents abundant teaching resources from the actual surrounding. It integrates real life scenario with theoretical studies. Students will not be burdened with heavy bags loaded with thick textbooks. Instead, e-textbooks with vivid simulation examples will be available. Solar Smart Table is designed to meet the requirements of this mobile and unconventional future classroom.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

Many researchers have expressed their ideas about the ideal classroom in major international conferences [1], [2] and [3]. The researchers believe that students should engage with mobile computing devices to enhance learning. The characteristics of these learning situations comprise of mobile technologies and learning content designs. Tablet PC and group scribble (GS) learning tool should be adapted to study to explore new effective learning scenarios and classroom activities need to be supported by mobile devices. There are different forms learning environment focusing on portability, mobility, personality and interaction [1].

The European Union (EU) has funded a project called iTEC (Innovative Technologies for an Emerging Classroom) in 12 European countries since September 2010 [2]. One of the important criteria of a future classroom is recognizing the importance of formal learning outside the school classroom. The students are encouraged to venture outside and explore the environment. The teachers believe that more and more learning will be done outside traditional classrooms. Such practices will enhance the creativity, innovativeness and communication skills of the students.

South Korea is a model nation when comes to technology and education. This country is planning to change from paper to digital textbooks in the next few years. PC, iPads and mobile phones will be the tools to access the subject contents in South Korea by 2015 [4]. Such a widespread use of technologies requires affordable hardware that support these devices.

To create a future classroom that fulfils the ideals of the researchers from the West to the East, affordable supporting hardware are required. The invention of the Solar Smart Table is one of the efforts aim to realize the implementation of the future classroom concepts.

Future classroom requires energy sources. Traditional methods of generating energy are based on the combustion of fossil fuels which in turn increase the carbon dioxide content of the earth and contribute to global warming [5], [6].

1

Therefore the Solar Smart Table will use solar photovoltaic as the primary energy source and supplement with a manual hand driven generator.

III. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this invention and innovation are:1. To design a Solar Smart Table that can support the

use of laptop, iPad or electronic textbooks for future classroom.

2. To use sustainable energy sources to supply energy to the Smart Table to ensure that the smart table is portable and can be used in both indoor and outdoor classroom environment.

IV. METHODOLOGY

The Solar Smart Table is made from maple wood which is durable and lightweight. Figures 1 – 4 describe the procedures of making the Solar Smart Table.

Fig. 1 shows a laptop cooler which was being attached at the centre of the table. The wires were neatly and carefully nailed and connected to the table in order for it to function properly.

Fig. 1 A laptop cooler was being attached at the centre of the wooden table

Fig. 2 shows a fan and a LED lamp were attached to the table, the wires of the fan and LED lamp were connected carefully to the USB hub underneath it. The USB hub functions as an electricity distributor to the fan, LED lamp and the laptop cooler from the Power Bank.

Fig. 3 shows that all the components in the Solar Smart Table were being joined neatly under the table. A pocket was sewed and nailed onto the table to hold the Power Bank which generates electricity required by the table.

After the table has been completely constructed, the legs were screwed and adjusted at the sides of the table as shown In Fig. 4.

V. COMPONENTS OF THE SOLAR SMART TABLE

The smart table will be an enabling technology for the future classroom. It is light and mobile. If every student is equipped with a Solar Smart Table, they can carry their own table to anywhere with conducive environment for a particular lesson. The Solar Smart Table consist of the following parts:

A. Foldable Wooden Table

Wooden table is timeless and beautiful. It brings a luxurious, warm and rich feeling into the classroom. If it is well taken care, it can last a lifetime. It can be made from rubber woods which provide additional revenues for the rubber plantations in Malaysia. Wooden tables are green and eco-friendly. The table can be made of reclaimed wood from

2

Fig. 2 A fan and LED lamp were attached to the table and the wires were connected to the USB hub.

Fig. 3 A pocket was sewed and nailed to the table for holding the Power Bank

Fig. 4 The legs were being screwed and adjusted to the sides of the tables.

recycled buildings which will avoid deforestation and reduce manufacturing waste that harms the environment. Another benefit is it can be used both indoors and outdoors. Fig. 5 shows the Solar Smart Table before folding. The table can be easily folded and carry with only one hand (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7). Fig. 8 shows a student carrying a folded table with one hand. A laptop cooler is attached at the centre of the table. This is to cool the laptop / iPad so that overheating will not occur.

Fig. 5 The Smart Table after completion

Fig. 6 The Smart Table can be folded

Fig. 7 The folded Smart Table is kept in a bag

Fig. 8 The Smart Table is portable and convenient to bring to

desired destinations

B. Portable Power Bank

The portable Power Bank is a simple and lightweight device which is capable of supplying energy to a laptop or iPad, a fan and an LED lamp. The laptop or iPad is an essential technological tool to store and read electronic books. The fan cools both the laptop / iPad and the student. The LED lamp provides illumination when the future classroom has moved to an outdoor environment under the dark sky. This will be the perfect setting for an astronomy class. The portable power source is able to provide sufficient energy for the laptop / iPad, fan and LED lamp simultaneously for more than two hours. This period is sufficient for most classes which normally do not exceed two hours. Fig. 9 is the picture of the portable Power Bank.

3

Fig. 9 The portable Power Bank

C. Power Charging Devices

Three portable solar photovoltaic based power charging devices are used to replenish the energy used.

1) Portable Solar Panel Charger : An illuminated Portable Solar Panel Charger will charge two rechargeable batteries. The solar panel can be put at any location to absorb the maximum solar energy to charge the batteries. The rechargeable batteries can then be used to charge the Power Bank at any convenient time. Fig. 10 shows the Portable Solar Panel Charger.

Fig. 10 The Portable Solar Panel Charger

2) Solar PV / Generator (Dual Mode) Charger : There is a small solar panel which converts solar energy to electrical energy to charge the Power Bank when illuminated by the sunlight. There is also a small generator which can generate electricity to charge the Power Bank by rotating the generator rotor manually. The generator rotor magnets produce magnetic flux that cuts across the stator windings. According to Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction, a voltage is induced on the stator coils. When the stator coils are connected to the Power Bank, the induced electromagnetic energy is transferred to the Power Bank. This feature is very useful as the charging can be done anytime and anywhere. If

sunlight is not available, this will be the perfect choice to charge the Power Bank. Fig. 11 shows a student charging the Power Bank by winding the handle attached to the charging device.

Fig. 11 Charging the Power Bank with a Portable Solar PV / Generator (Dual Mode) Charger

3) DIY Solar Power Charger : The third method of charging the Power Bank is by designing and constructing a simple Solar Power Charger using a 7805 electronic voltage regulator based circuit (DIY - Do It Yourself). The solar panel has an output voltage of 17.5 V. The 7805 voltage regulator converts the 17.5 V to 5 V to charge the Power Bank. A diode is used to ensure that the electric current does not flow back into the solar panel. Capacitors are connected on both the input and output of the 7805 voltage regulator to filter out high frequency noise. The cost of constructing the whole circuit is less than RM50. Therefore the self-constructed charger is affordable and can be constructed by school students. This will provide an enriching experience for the students. Fig. 12 shows the DIY Solar Power Charger.

Fig. 12 The DIY Solar Power Charger

4

VI. USER SURVEY

A user survey was conducted to obtain the information regarding the users’ satisfaction of using Solar Smart Table. 15 users are allowed to use the Solar Smart Table under the following conditions:

(i) Blackout occurs but the students need to study for the examination on the next morning (Fig. 13).

(ii) A normal classroom without electricity supplies (Fig. 14).

(iii) A classroom setting in the school garden where electricity supply is unavailable but the students need to access internet and use the laptop (Fig 15).

Fig. 13 A student studies for examination when blackout occurs

Fig. 14 A classroom with no electricity supply

Fig. 15 Using Solar Smart Table in the garden

Results of the User Survey

From the feedbacks of the 15 respondents, the Solar Smart Table has received many positive comments. Users found that the Smart Table is convenient and the quality is very good. Users will use it daily at home, in the school and at other locations outside the house such as camping. Some users suggested that the height of the solar Smart Table needs to be adjustable to suit different body sizes. The survey outcomes verify the feasibility of the Solar Smart Table application.

Experimental ResultAn experiment was carried out to determine the duration of

time that the Power Bank can be used after charging with 3 different types of charges : The Portable Solar Panel Charger (Fig.10), The Portable Solar PV / Generator (Dual Mode) Charger (Fig.11), the DIY Solar Charger (Fig.12).

The result shows that when fully charged using the Portable Solar Panel Charger, the Power Bank can be used for 4.3 hours, whereas the durations are 3.5 hours and 2.5 hours if it is charged with Dual Mode Charger and DIY Solar Power Charger respectively, as shown in Fig.16.

5

0

1

2

3

4

5

Duration of Time That The Power Bank Can be Used After Charging

Duration of Time That The Power Bank Can be Used After Charging

Types of chargers

Ti

me (hours)

Fig. 16 The bar chart indicates the duration of time the Power Bank can be used after charging with 3 different chargers.

VI. CONCLUSIONS

A Smart Table that can be used to support the implementation of future classroom has been designed and constructed. It is portable and uses sustainable energy sources that are eco-friendly. An experiment result showed that the Portable Solar Panel Charger gives an outstanding result compared to the Dual-Mode Charger and the DIY Solar Charger. This Solar Smart Table also meets the requirement of its users that it can be used to study both indoors and outdoors.Hence, the future classroom can be mobile and shift to any location that supports the particular lesson. Such practices will enhance the creativity, innovativeness and communication skills of the students. Therefore, it is a contributing factor to open a new paradigm in the ways of teaching and learning as well as fulfilling students’ requirements in 21st century. Thus, it achieved our objectives of invention: “with the Solar Smart Table, teaching and learning activities can be anywhere, innovative, creative and convenient”.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Solar Smart Table Innovation Team would like to express their gratitude to the Sekolah Menengah Sains Seri Puteri, Kuala Lumpur for supporting the project and the University of Malaya Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) for their technical advice.

REFERENCES

[1] Chiao-Yu Chang, Chin-Pin Lin, Yi-Chen Lin, “Innovative Future Education in Taiwan: Learning with Mobile Learning Technology,” in Proc. 5th International Conference on Wireless, Mobile and Ubiquitous Technology in Education, 23-25 March 2008, Beijing, China, pp. 199-201.

[2] M.Michalko, F. Jalcob, Z. Szalay, V. Bhova, “Innovative Learning Stories for Teachers based on Latest IT Technologies,” in Proc.9th

IEEE International Conference on Emerging e-learning Technologies and Applications, Oct. 27-28 2011, Slovakia, pp. 141-146,

[3] Kim, K., “Ubiquitous Laerning Supporting System for Future Classroom in Korea”, in Proc. Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2008, Chesapeake, Virginia, USA, pp. 2648-2657.

[4] English Online website. [online]. Available: http://www.english-online.at/news.atrticle/technology (acess on 29.03.2012)

[5] Roger A. Messenger and Jerry Ventre, Photovoltaic Systems Engineering, 2nd ed., CRC Press, 2004.

[6] Mark Venables, “Closing in on 2020 – Energy renewable,” Engineering & Technology, vol. 7, Issue 1, pp. 28-31, February 2012.

6