Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered.
Your project should incorporate:
2D and 3D design
Additive and subtractive fabrication processes
Electronics design and production
Embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming
System integration and packaging
1. What will it do?
The Honor Tree is a wall-mounted interactive device that visually records and displays the class’s cooperation and growth in real-time using puzzle pieces and lights.
When students complete challenges, they insert their personalized puzzle pieces into the tree, which automatically detects and lights up the corresponding LEDs as achievement feedback.
This device not only rewards individual performance but strengthens team spirit by gathering every child’s effort into a collective glow.
Educational Goals
Increase student engagement
Build a classroom atmosphere with a strong sense of belonging and recognition
2. Who has done what beforehand?
While there are some basic “puzzle light” toys and growth boards for children on the market, few are specially designed for group or class growth evaluation combining magnetic sensing and programmable LED feedback. Existing evaluations mostly rely on digital data collection and analysis, lacking tangible interactive experience.
The Honor Tree enhances the ritual and sense of achievement through physical puzzle insertion triggering lights; team task completion lights up the whole tree to reinforce teamwork and collective honor; the physical interaction offers a more immersive, intuitive experience than traditional digital assessments.
3. What will you design?
3.1 2D – A tree design printed and mounted on the wall
3.2 3D – Printed personalized puzzle pieces shaped like apples
3.3 Electronics design and production – using ESP32
3.4 Input/output devices – V1 basic light-up
I designed the Honor Tree — a laser-cut tree background with 8 puzzle slots, each equipped with independent magnetic sensing and LED feedback. The system supports customizable puzzle shapes and multiple-person or group collaboration and motivation.
Jumper wires, breadboard or perfboard, and other common connectors
5. Where will they come from?
Most core components (LEDs, sensors, resistors, etc.) were purchased from domestic e-commerce sites such as Taobao and DFRobot. Laser cutting and 3D printing were done at local maker spaces or school fab labs.
6. How much will they cost?
Estimated cost (2025 prices):
WS2812B LEDs (¥1.5 each ×8) ≈ ¥12
Hall sensors (¥2 each ×8) ≈ ¥16
ESP32-C3 Xiao ≈ ¥32
Resistors, capacitors, jumper wires ≈ ¥10
Magnets, breadboard, 5V adapter ≈ ¥20
Laser cutting wood ≈ ¥30
3D printing puzzle pieces ≈ ¥40 (local rate)
Total ≈ ¥160–180, prices vary by region.
7. What parts and systems will be made?
Self-made parts include the laser-cut tree background board, 3D-printed magnetic puzzle pieces, all circuit soldering and wiring, software logic (puzzle sensing and LED dynamic feedback), and overall assembly and debugging.
8. What processes will be used?
Laser cutting (wood board)
3D modeling and printing (puzzle pieces)
Component soldering and breadboard prototyping
ESP32 programming via Arduino IDE with FastLED library
Assembly and repeated functional testing
9. What questions need to be answered?
Is the magnetic sensing of puzzle pieces stable?
How to optimize LED feedback delay and failure issues?
Durability of puzzle insertion/removal and likelihood of accidental triggers by students?
How to maintain aesthetics and sturdiness without increasing cost?
10. How will it be evaluated?
Simulated classroom group operations tested insertion/removal response and durability.
Multiple student trials observed LED feedback and puzzle interaction smoothness.
Teacher interviews collected feedback on classroom atmosphere and student engagement improvements.
11.what tasks have been completed?
All core components have been procured, including LEDs, Hall sensors, magnets, and the ESP32-C3 microcontroller. The laser-cut tree background has been fabricated, and initial 3D-printed puzzle pieces have been produced. Basic circuit wiring and breadboard prototyping have been completed, and the software logic for sensing puzzle insertion and controlling LED feedback has been implemented. Initial testing confirms that each puzzle insertion reliably triggers the corresponding LED.
12. what tasks remain?
Remaining tasks include refining the sensor mounting and magnet alignment to avoid missed or false triggers, ensuring consistent power delivery to all LEDs, adjusting the 3D-printed puzzle pieces for smooth insertion and removal, integrating the DFPlayer Mini sound module, and conducting full classroom trials to evaluate engagement and durability. Documentation and final assembly of the Honor Tree for classroom use are also pending.
13. what has worked? what hasn't?
Worked well: Puzzle insertion triggers near-instant LED feedback; ESP32 handles 8 inputs and LEDs smoothly.
Challenges:
Sensor mounting depth and magnet distance need repeated adjustment to avoid missed or false triggers.
WS2812B LED power supply voltage drop requires extra power injection points.
3D printing tolerances cause some puzzle pieces to stick in slots.
14. what questions need to be resolved?
Key questions that need resolution include: How to maintain long-term stability of the magnetic sensing under frequent student interaction? How to prevent LED flicker or power drop during simultaneous activation of multiple LEDs? How to make puzzle pieces universally compatible with all slot designs while ensuring durability? How to optimize the sound module volume and timing to avoid disruption yet enhance motivation? And how to scale the system for larger classrooms or multiple groups without significant redesign?
15. what will happen when?
The device is low-cost, reproducible, and modular, suitable for real-time classroom motivational evaluations. It can be extended to class growth scoreboards, project progress trees, or parent-child interactive teaching tools. It promotes “assessment as learning” and enhances students’ ownership and sense of achievement.
16. what have you learned?
I have learned the importance of integrating mechanical, electronic, and software components into a cohesive interactive system. Iterative prototyping and testing are crucial for ensuring reliability and usability. Designing for classroom use emphasizes durability, user-friendliness, and engagement. I also gained experience in troubleshooting sensor sensitivity, LED power management, 3D printing tolerances, and adding multimedia feedback. Finally, I understood how modular design allows future upgrades, such as sound integration, while maintaining low cost and reproducibility.
Honor Tree V2 Upgrade Plan
Add a Sound Module (DFPlayer Mini)
Play congratulatory voice messages automatically when a group earns an honor, such as:
"Congratulations to Group 2 for completing the challenge!"
Each group can set a custom background track or team anthem to strengthen the sense of identity and ceremony.
Add fun sound effects to make interactions more engaging and lively.
