Abstract:

An example for using Node-RED for expanding the students’ knowledge and skills in object-based programming with JavaScript is presented in the article. Actual practice has proven that learning is productive when the new knowledge is put into practice, it is only then the students are able to form long-lasting skills. This is the main reason for us to find effective approaches for STEM education that use integrative methods with practical focus and provoke students to think.

Introduction:
There is hardly any field in our society where technology and innovation aren’t used. Vast amount of professions and communicative models couldn’t exist without technology. Science and innovations are playing significant role in human development and as every revolution they lead to transformations, crashes and insecurity but also to progress.

Characteristics of Node-RED as an instrument for supporting the methodology via STEM teaching model:
Node-RED is a programming instrument that connects hardware devices, API and online services in a new and interesting way. It provides a browser-based editor that connects streams, using a wide range of nodes that can be imported in it just by clicking Node.js.
Node.js is an Open Source server application that creates an environment for JavaScript. Run by JavaScript machine on Google V8. Node.js is used to create fast and scaled web applications and the model is run by unblocking I/O operations which make it light and effective. Thanks to its characteristics it is widely used by a lot of companies.

Example for using Node-RED for upgrading the knowledge and skills in object-based programming with JavaScript:
JavaScript is one of the most popular script languages for Internet programming. It helps for the websites and web pages we are using today to be more dynamic and attractive. And what is more the concept of Internet of things (IoT) is becoming more and more popular in our daily life and gives us wide range of possibilities and opportunities to create teaching projects. And this is where Node-RED appears to be the link between the hardware component and the control interface that uses JavaScript. The interface that controls and visualize data is written on JavaScript and is part of the curriculum of Object-based programming at school.

Task example. Aim of the task:
- Improving and expanding of the knowledge of the structure “if..else”
- Improving and expanding of the knowledge of the function “Date“ and “Split“

Instruction:
- Each student has a computer with Node-RED server and programming environment VisualStudio Code.
- Each student has to create an algorithm that controls the level of temperature of the air-conditioning system in the “kitchen”.
The sensor that measures the local temperature publishes the value in “PGEE/temperature“ in the local net. The algorithm has to read the data from the sensor in the “kitchen“ which is published in “PGEE/temperature“. It is supposed to check if the current value is lower or higher than 30 C°, but lower than 40 C° or if it is higher than 40 C°. Depending on the value, the algorithm has to launch three different scales of cooling. The structure “if..else“ is used during this checkup. The algorithm has to show the exact local time by changing its colour using the function Data.

Conclusion:
An example for using Node-RED for expanding the students’ knowledge and skills in object-based programming with JavaScript was presented in the article.

Keywords:

NoteRed, object based programming, knowledge, skills