I took each of the 8 children aside that I worked with and tested them individually on the eBlocks project.  The first thing I would do is explain that this is a research project I am doing for my college and that I would be testing them on how well they understood and could correctly put together different embedded systems using eBlocks which is a set of hardware components created and designed by a Professor at my college.  Using the eBlock Reference Manual of January, 2003 Version 1.0, I walked them through the Garage Door Open at Night example.  After they understood how the individual components worked on their own, I explained how they all worked together with wires and wireless signals.  After I felt sure they had a good understanding of the system, I went through the Quick Reference guide to all the individual eBlock components.  This included the Magnetic Contact Switch, Light Beam Switch, Motion Sensor, Sound Sensor, 10-key Entry, Green/Red LED, Beeper, Clock Timer, Wireless Transmitters and Receivers, etc.  I then gave them a copy of the Quick Reference Guide, cut out pictures of all the eBlock components, and string for wire.  I then tested each child with 3 different examples that can be found in the eBlock Reference Manual.  These were 1) Object Finder 2) Disabled-Student Teacher Caller (DSTC) System 3) Mail Notifier.  I would explain the basic situation for each of the situations, and then explain the requirements (ie. Object Finder, we want something where when we lose an object we can go to a location and activate something on the lost object so we can then find it).  At first this was all I would to tell the children allowing them to choose their own components with which to work.  If after a little time they were either headed in the wrong direction or were absolutely stuck I would then tell them which components they should be using.  Below is a summary of each individual child’s performance on the above tests.

Ian is a 13-year old boy who is entering 7^th grade.  He very quickly caught on when I explained the Garage Door Open Example, and understood most of the other eBlock components.  He had trouble understanding the Logger, Toggle, Tripper, and some others that were not necessary for the test.  He quickly was able to correctly create the Lost Object example.  With the Disabled-Student Teacher Caller System is took him a bit more time because he seemed confused with the situation in which this system would be needed.  After some more detailed explanations he also figured this one out.  He had some trouble with the Mail Notifier Example because he could not figure out what to use on the mailbox (which sensor).  He connected the rest together but I had to tell him to use the Light-Beam Switch or Magnetic Contact Switch.  He could not figure out which Switch or Sensor to use.

Leanna is a 10-year old girl entering 5^th grade.  It took quite a bit of time for me to walk her through the garage door example, but once I did she was able to understand and explain back to me how it worked.  The components also took a little bit of time as she wanted to know how the insides of the components actually worked rather than me just telling her the description of the eBlock component.  She was able to do the Object Finder easily.  For the Disabled-Student Teacher Caller System she had some trouble because she kept trying to connect on the LED’s and Wireless Receiver’s together for the teacher.  I had to explain that they needed to be kept separate so the teacher can know exactly which student needs help.  On the Mail Notifier she also did not know which sensor to use to detect when the mail got there.  I had to tell her to use the Magnetic Switch or the Light-Beam Switch and then she figured the rest out on her own.

Stephen is an 11-year boy entering 5^th grade.  Stephen had the most difficult time with the eBlocks out of all the children that I tested.  He never fully understood the Garage Door Example.  He appeared to understand what each of the eBlock components did, but he never was able to really put any system together except between the wireless transmitter and receiver.  I had to help him a lot on all three of the test examples.  The one he did the best on was the Object-Locator, then the Disabled-Student Calling System, followed lastly by the Mail Notifier. 

Mark is a 10-year old boy entering 5^th grade.  Mark was a quiet but fairly bright student.  He did not talk much, but listened intently to what I was telling him.  We ran through the Garage Door Example fairly quickly along with the components because he did not ask to many questions.  He took a bit of time with the first test, but completed the Object Locator with no help from me except for the occasional nod that he was on the right track.  He was able to do the Disabled-Student Calling System quickly with not much help either.  The Mail Notifier however took him some time, but he was able to successfully use the Light-Beam Switch to detect when the mail had been placed in the mailbox.

All of the kids appeared to me to understand to some extent what an embedded system was, and how to put a simple one together using eBlocks.  I believe this is largely due to the fact that children’s minds are better able to understand and use a new technology rather than adults.  I also noticed a direct correlation between how bright some of the students were with computers to how well they performed on the tests.  In general those who knew there way around a computer, and had more than a basic understanding did exceptionally well on the tests (ie. Walter).  The test example most of the children had trouble with was the Mail Notifier.  They could not figure out what component to use to detect if the mail had been placed in the mailbox.  The 2 and 3 input Logic Blocks were the components that most of the children had the hardest time understanding.  Their favorite component that they knew how to use right away was the Wireless Transmitter and Wireless Receiver.  Overall, after looking at the eBlocks components and doing my research I believe that anyone, including children, can put together simple and useful embedded systems with the components.