Turning e-waste into Educational Arcade Machines

My name is Regina Kgatle (20 years old) and I’m studying a Bsc in electrical & computer engineering at the University of Cape Town. Passion for a green environment is what drives me to go beyond the normality of being green. I have been very much involved with the Eskom science expo competitions, boosting and casting my innovative ideas. You can call me “innovative girl” because my personality encompasses its definition.

Educational Arcade Machines

The machines will be assembled using e-waste equipment and almost everything old or worn out that could be used to enclose and decorate the casing. The casing will vary in dimension as per height of the user, e.g: for Grade R’s, the arcade machine could be a metre long.

The arcade machine will be pre-programmed, so as to suit each learner’s school curriculum. It will be comprised of multiple choice and one word answer questions, short lessons and many more fun filled, yet educationally effective lessons.

Let’s say a Grade R learner chooses to get a short lesson on animals before answering questions about animals. The learner will be required to click on each radio-button and an image corresponding to the chosen radio-button will be displayed.

After say five minutes, the program will automatically switch to the question mode where images are displayed and the learner will then choose the radio-button corresponding to the animal displayed.

Example of an animal program to be featured on arcade machines for grade R’s:

Image LHS:
1. Pictures taken during research: young kids playing recreational arcade games
2. Prototype in progress: Educational arcade machine’s wooden casing; Recycled hardware

Positive Impact on SA

1. By recycling e-waste (which would otherwise become waste material and release harmful gases, e.g: lead poisoning into te atmosphere), the ‘Educational Arcade Machines’ promote a green and eco-friendly environment.
2. The ‘Educational Arcade Machines’ incorporate the use of other waste material such as cardboard, paper and plastic.
3. By expanding learners knowledge and promoting effective learning methods, the foundational stages of learning will be deepened and strengthened.
4. The ‘Educational Arcade Machines’ could improve the quality of our South African educational system. Since there are no restrictions, brighter learners could advance beyond their school curriculum.
5. Long term: With strategic marketing and alignment and with the objectives of the education system, the ‘Educational Arcade Machines’ could serve as a solution to job creation among non and semi skilled youth.

Resources needed to make the project possible

1. TV/computer screen, keyboard with at least four buttons, mouse, joystick, computer and half meter electric wire per arcade machine.
2. Saws, layout square, tape measure, screwdriver, soldering equipment, carpenters glue, masking tape, driller, three 4′ x 8′ x 5/8″ cardboard, 30″ x 33″ acrylic look alike panel, 2″x4″x10′ spruce, 1 1/2″ board Screws

Note: There are many more programs to be featured on the Educational Arcade Machines