Deep Dive into 'KidBright Net' Phase 2: When Weather and PM 2.5 Data Become Virtual Classrooms

In an era where data has become a new global treasure, teaching Data Science at the secondary level is crucial. The classic problem schools face is learning based on hypothetical datasets disconnected from students' real context, making learning feel lifeless and impersonal. Creating real data within school grounds for students to engage with, pose questions, and solve actual problems requires complex and expensive technological infrastructure that not every school can access. This led to the research project 'Educational Communication Network (KidBright Net)' supported by the Broadcasting, Television, and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for Public Benefit (BCNF), now entering its second phase. The core of KidBright Net is not just device installation, but creating a comprehensive learning ecosystem. Anuchit Lelayuththo, project leader from NECTEC, revealed the development of 'Little Weather', an intelligent weather station that will transform school grounds and rooftops into small Big Data sources. The project involves creating a research-based weather measurement device using sensor systems to measure wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, temperature, and humidity. Data is transmitted through low-energy long-range wireless communication (LoRa) to a gateway and then to cloud systems, powered entirely by solar cells. In its first phase (2023-2024), the project has already installed systems in 30 schools across 17 provinces. The second phase (2025-2026) aims to expand to 60 more schools, with a focus on new provinces to ensure nationwide coverage. A key upgrade is the addition of PM 2.5 sensors to weather stations, addressing real environmental challenges faced by schools nationwide.