A big thanks to Jenna for writing about her awesome DIY digital clock project designed for educators.

Jenna writes:

I designed and built a DIY digital clock that is optimized
for teachers. Programmed with an Arduino and using several Adafruit
components, such as Neopixels and the ChronoDot. Features include:

an additional digit that keeps track of the block or period- an especially
useful feature for rotating block schedules; the ability to program holidays
into the code to prevent the block from advancing on days when school is not
in session; LED digits that fade from green to red as the end of the period
or block approaches so that a single glance can convey the remaining class
time; a countdown timer triggered several minutes before the period ends
that flashes between the time and the remaining time- a useful feature for
signaling cleanup time; and
other light effects that can be triggered during lunch, free periods, after
school, or other special occasions!

See the full write-up on instructables here.

The Classroom Clock is a DIY digital clock designed and optimized for teachers. When I began teaching, I found it very difficult to keep track of the rotating block schedule. Classroom Clock solves this problem, in addition to offering several other convenient features:

• An additional digit that keeps track of the block or period- an especially useful feature for rotating block schedules
• The ability to program holidays into the code to prevent the block from advancing on days when school is not in session
• LED digits that fade from green to red as the end of the period or block approaches so that a single glance can convey the remaining class time
• A countdown timer triggered 6 minutes before the period ends that flashes between the time and the remaining time- a useful feature for signaling cleanup time
• Other light effects that can be triggered during lunch, free periods, after school, or other special occasions

But the possibilities are endless! How will you program the Classroom Clock?

Read more.

Featured Adafruit Products!

ChronoDot – Ultra-precise Real Time Clock – v2.1: The ChronoDot RTC is an extremely accurate real time clock module, based on the DS3231 temperature compensated RTC (TCXO). It includes a CR1632 battery (not shown, but included in the product) which should last at least 8 years if the I2C interface is only used while the device has 5V power available. No external crystal or tuning capacitors are required. (read more)

Each Tuesday is EducationTuesday here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts about educators and all things STEM. Adafruit supports our educators and loves to spread the good word about educational STEM innovations!