Smart objects for engineering labs: Boosting exploratory learning in higher education

Smart Objects, the constituent elements of the Internet of Things, are computationally enhanced everyday objects such as shoes, fridges, tools, and more. In education, they have the potential to boost exploratory learning of engineering concepts by providing real-time information to students during their learning activities. With this goal in mind, we developed the Smart Cube: a Smart Object for physics courses. This device — by means of an embedded acceleration sensor, a WiFi radio, and a microprocessor — provides real-time acceleration measurements and when combined with an Augmented Reality interface allows students to explore concepts such as normal force and friction. This article presents the design of our first prototype and reports our first experiments on the use of the Smart Cube in an undergraduate physics laboratory course. Preliminary results show a good acceptance and user experience by the students and point towards possible benefits in deeper understanding of engineering concepts.