Integrating Sustainable Touchless Technology into Practical Learning for Educational Impact

Abstract

The integration of sustainability, hygiene awareness, and smart automation has created opportunities for practical learning in TVET education. This study presents the design and development of an IoT-based touchless tissue dispenser as a practical learning prototype. The system was developed using an ESP32 microcontroller, ultrasonic sensor, servo motor, OLED display, LED indicator, and the Blynk IoT platform. A design and development approach guided by the Waterfall Model was applied, covering requirements analysis, system design, implementation, integration, testing, and deployment planning. The prototype was also mapped to project-based learning activities involving circuit design, microcontroller programming, mobile dashboard configuration, system testing, troubleshooting, and sustainability reflection. Functional validation through Wokwi simulation and prototype testing showed that the system was able to dispense tissue automatically when hand proximity was detected within 15 cm, remain in standby mode when no hand was detected, display real-time distance and status information, and support manual activation through the Blynk mobile interface. The prototype demonstrates the potential of low-cost IoT-based automation to support hands-on learning in electronics, programming, sensor integration, and sustainable technology applications. It provides a practical example of how touchless technology can be integrated into TVET learning activities without relying solely on theoretical instruction.