03 - Make your own weather(station) (EQF 3)

Make your own weather(station) (EQF 3)

Lesson plan for students

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, students will:

  1. Understand how data from a weather station can be visualized in The Things Network (or a similar IoT platform).

  1. Work in teams to design and build a simple, functional dashboard.

  1. Explore different ways to make data user-friendly (graphs, icons, colors, layout).

  1. Reflect on their teamwork: what went smoothly, and what was challenging.

Introduction (10 min)

  • Teacher introduces the challenge: “Today you will become dashboard designers. Your task is to build a new dashboard for our weather station data in The Things Network. Your goal: make it clear, useful, and creative — and do it as a team.”

  • Quick demo of what a dashboard looks like (show one existing example).

Data Exploration (10 min)

  • Students receive a dataset from the weather station (temperature, humidity, wind, etc.).

  • In groups (3–4 students), they answer:

    • Which values are most important to show?

    • Who is the audience (students, teachers, citizens, energy experts)?

    • Which type of visualizations (line chart, bar chart, gauges, icons) would work best?

Dashboard Design (45 min)

  • Groups design their dashboard using the provided IoT platform (The Things Network or similar).

  • Suggested workflow:

    • Sketch the layout on paper first (decide where graphs, icons, colors go).

    • Assign roles: Data handler, Designer, Quality checker, Presenter.

    • Build the dashboard step by step, testing visuals as they go.

Presentations (15 min)

  • Each group presents their dashboard (max. 5 min).

  • They must explain:

    • Why they chose their design.

    • What teamwork strategies helped them.

    • What was difficult about working together.

Wrap-Up (10 min)

  • Teacher highlights best practices from the dashboards.

  • Class reflection: “If this dashboard were shared with other schools in Europe, how would it help them?”

  • Connect to VetSkillinG dissemination: dashboards are a way to make weather data meaningful for a wider audience. 

Teacher Form – Guidance for Delivery

Preparation

  • Provide access to The Things Network (TTN) or a similar IoT visualization tool.

  • Prepare datasets (CSV or real-time feed) for students to use.

  • Print blank dashboard design templates for sketching layouts.

Delivery Tips

  • Keep the task visual and creative — Level 3 students engage more with design than with code-heavy tasks.

  • Encourage diversity in approaches (some may prefer minimal dashboards, others colorful with many visuals).

  • Monitor group roles: ensure all students participate, not just the most tech-savvy.

Assessment

  • Use a rubric:

  • Dashboard usability & clarity (40%)

  • Creativity & design choices (20%)

  • Group collaboration (20%)

  • Presentation & reflection (20%)

  • Optionally: collect reflection sheets (1–2 sentences: What was easiest? What was hardest?).

 

Duration: 1.5 hours
Target group: VET students (EQF Level 3), teachers
Context: Post-VetSkillinG dissemination workshop

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, students will:

  1. Understand how data from a weather station can be visualized in The Things Network (or a similar IoT platform).

  1. Work in teams to design and build a simple, functional dashboard.

  1. Explore different ways to make data user-friendly (graphs, icons, colors, layout).

  1. Reflect on their teamwork: what went smoothly, and what was challenging.

Student Lesson Flow

1. Introduction (10 min)

  • Teacher introduces the challenge: “Today you will become dashboard designers. Your task is to build a new dashboard for our weather station data in The Things Network. Your goal: make it clear, useful, and creative — and do it as a team.”

  • Quick demo of what a dashboard looks like (show one existing example).

 

2. Data Exploration (15 min)

  • Students receive a dataset from the weather station (temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall, etc.).

  • In groups (3–4 students), they answer:

  • Which values are most important to show?

  • Who is the audience (students, teachers, citizens, energy experts)?

  • Which type of visualizations (line chart, bar chart, gauges, icons) would work best?

 

3. Dashboard Design (35 min)

  • Groups design their dashboard using the provided IoT platform (The Things Network or similar).

  • Suggested workflow:

  • Sketch the layout on paper first (decide where graphs, icons, colors go).

  • Assign roles: Data handler, Designer, Quality checker, Presenter.

  • Build the dashboard step by step, testing visuals as they go.

 

4. Presentations (20 min)

  • Each group presents their dashboard (max. 5 min).

  • They must explain:

  • Why they chose their design.

  • What teamwork strategies helped them.

  • What was difficult about working together.

 

5. Wrap-Up (10 min)

  • Teacher highlights best practices from the dashboards.

  • Class reflection: “If this dashboard were shared with other schools in Europe, how would it help them?”

  • Connect to VetSkillinG dissemination: dashboards are a way to make weather data meaningful for a wider audience.

Reflection Cards

Reflection Cards – Teamwork in the Weather Station Improvement Workshop

Card 1 – Easy Parts

  • What was the easiest part of working together today?

  • Why do you think it went smoothly?

  • Who or what helped make it easier?

 

Card 2 – Difficult Parts

  • What was the most difficult part of working together today?

  • Did you face disagreements? If yes, how?

  • Why was it challenging?

 

Card 3 – Collaboration Strategies

  • How did your team make sure everyone could share their ideas?

  • Did someone take on a leadership role?

  • How did you solve disagreements or different opinions?

 

Card 4 – Personal Role

  • What was your own role in the group today?

  • How did you contribute to the team’s work?

  • What would you like to improve next time?

 

Card 5 – Lessons for the Future

  • What is one thing your team did well that you would repeat in the future?

  • What is one thing you would change to make teamwork easier next time?

  • How can these lessons help in future projects or jobs?

 

Teacher Tip

  • Give each group 2–3 different cards (not all 5), so they can reflect on different aspects.

  • In presentations, each group should share one teamwork insight from their reflection card exercise, alongside their technical findings.

  • Collect the cards afterwards → they can serve as dissemination material (quotes, posters, newsletter highlights).

  • Het arrangement 03 - Make your own weather(station) (EQF 3) is gemaakt met Wikiwijs van Kennisnet. Wikiwijs is hét onderwijsplatform waar je leermiddelen zoekt, maakt en deelt.

    Auteur
    Vetskilling
    Laatst gewijzigd
    2025-09-17 15:56:32
    Licentie

    Dit lesmateriaal is gepubliceerd onder de Creative Commons Naamsvermelding 4.0 Internationale licentie. Dit houdt in dat je onder de voorwaarde van naamsvermelding vrij bent om:

    • het werk te delen - te kopiëren, te verspreiden en door te geven via elk medium of bestandsformaat
    • het werk te bewerken - te remixen, te veranderen en afgeleide werken te maken
    • voor alle doeleinden, inclusief commerciële doeleinden.

    Meer informatie over de CC Naamsvermelding 4.0 Internationale licentie.

    Aanvullende informatie over dit lesmateriaal

    Van dit lesmateriaal is de volgende aanvullende informatie beschikbaar:

    Toelichting
    03 - Make your own weather(station) (EQF 3)
    Eindgebruiker
    leerling/student
    Moeilijkheidsgraad
    gemiddeld

  • Downloaden

    Het volledige arrangement is in de onderstaande formaten te downloaden.

    Metadata

    LTI

    Leeromgevingen die gebruik maken van LTI kunnen Wikiwijs arrangementen en toetsen afspelen en resultaten terugkoppelen. Hiervoor moet de leeromgeving wel bij Wikiwijs aangemeld zijn. Wil je gebruik maken van de LTI koppeling? Meld je aan via info@wikiwijs.nl met het verzoek om een LTI koppeling aan te gaan.

    Maak je al gebruik van LTI? Gebruik dan de onderstaande Launch URL’s.

    Arrangement

    IMSCC package

    Wil je de Launch URL’s niet los kopiëren, maar in één keer downloaden? Download dan de IMSCC package.

    Voor developers

    Wikiwijs lesmateriaal kan worden gebruikt in een externe leeromgeving. Er kunnen koppelingen worden gemaakt en het lesmateriaal kan op verschillende manieren worden geëxporteerd. Meer informatie hierover kun je vinden op onze Developers Wiki.

  • Gebruik
    Weergave
  • Wikiwijs is een dienst van