Makey Makey at the Harbor School STEM Lab

How does Makey Makey work?

Makey Makey is a circuit board that connects to a computer via a USB cable allowing users to connect everyday household objects to computer programs. The computer becomes an extension of their creativity, fostering imaginative discovery. Users with no coding experience can experiment, invent, and build circuits that can be used like a joystick or a keyboard key. Makey Makey simplifies electronic devices to make the world manipulable in ways previously available only to developers.

The Banana Piano is a popular project. In this setup, bananas become piano keys when connected to Makey Makey. Students are astonished when they realize they can make music just by tapping on a row of bananas.

When inventing, anything goes! Some of the materials students can connect to the circuit include:

Who can use Makey Makey?

Learners of all ages, regardless of their academic strengths or weaknesses, can use Makey Makey since it is easy to use and does not require prior coding experience. Makey Makey gives all students equitable access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities. With open-ended design challenges, success is not measured by a single correct answer but from making mistakes and trying different solutions. With Makey Makey, the possibilities are endless!

Building 21st Century Skills

Problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, communication, innovation, critical, and analytical thinking are vital 21st-century skills in our rapidly changing world. With infinite ways to invent, solve, and innovate, Makey Makey provides learners with the tools to help them develop into risk-taking, critical-thinking collaborators. We are so excited to see what students will create with it!