Just wanted to share - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 09:28:40 pm
content: I work at the public library here, and I recently convinced my boss to let me teach an electronics program for kids; 5th and 6th graders (11 or 12 years old, I believe). Conveniently enough, there is an elementary school next door that has an afterschool science program.I talked about current and resistors, how switches and transistors work, we lit up-- and promptly killed some LEDs. I walked them through the good 'ol two LED blinker circuit, and let them play with a 555 buzzer circuit.This was a more or less random group, so some of them really were not interested, which is okay, not everyone likes electronics. What made it worth all the dozens of hours I spent buying parts, assembling circuits, and filling out paperwork was when a couple of the kids immediately got it. They were interested, they asked questions, made connections, understood what was going on, and wanted more!Sharing my hobby is fun, but teaching these kids, and watching those few immediately get it and get interested was a whole new experience. It was totally worth all the work. Maybe I've sparked a lifelong hobby, or a future engineer, who knows?Several of the other schools in the area have heard about this program, and want us to come do it with them. I know some of you guys on here are teachers and educators, so maybe you know the feeling I'm talking about.Anyway, this is all terribly exciting, new territory for me, and I just wanted to share.

author: Noise Floor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 10:45:57 pm
content: Uplifting post on many fronts, thanks for sharing. Ever consider becoming a teacher by trade?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 12:29:27 am
content: Nice!Seems you enjoyed it, so I'd hope you keep up with it, because as you mentioned, you could spark a kid or two to pursue electronics, however they choose to do so.Seems a very good thing IMHO.

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 04:08:57 am
content: Quote from: Noise Floor on March 05, 2014, 10:45:57 pmI might keep teaching, but I definitely do not want to become a teacher professionally.Quote from: nanofrog on March 06, 2014, 12:29:27 amYes, I'm having lots of fun-- and the kids are too! There's currently four elementary schools that want us to come do the program, we're adapting it for the middle school (7th and 8th grade),andwe're thinking about opening the program to the public in the fall. I'm not stopping any time soon, it seems

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 10:37:05 am
content: Nice to hear. Not so nice to consider why the schools don't include basic technology in the curriculum. Because that's just a depressing reminder of the ever-shrinking place of learning vs indoctrination in schools.

author: uwezi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 07:50:33 pm
content: Thumbs up

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 07:56:38 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on March 06, 2014, 10:37:05 amHere in Kentucky, at least, they are trying to introduce technology into the core curriculum, they're calling it STEAMScience, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. I don't really know how it's going to work out, or what kind of technology and engineering they're going to include, but at least it's a change from what we've had for the last 50 years.Quote from: TerraHertz on March 06, 2014, 10:37:05 amThis is part of the reason I don't want to become a teacher. I could do a lot more, and reach a lot more people outside of the traditional education system. And yes, it's depressing as hell

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 08:23:05 pm
content: Definitely a thumbs up