A friend of mine teaches a high school circuit analysis class to home schoolers. They meet once/week. 15 boys age 14-17, my 14 yr old son included. My friend (40) just got diagnosed with a brain tumor, 3 young kids. Ug. But we are hopeful, he’s still in the diagnosis stage.
I offered to teach the 2nd semester for him. I’m a mechanical engineer who has dabbled in electronics for 25 years. Guitar amps, pedals, etc. I recently designed a circuit here on AllAboutCircuits; a condenser mic preamp/HPF for my guitar. Schematic, sim and layout in Eagle. Prototype PCB being made currently at Osh Park.
First semester the kids got a lot of the basics. For the 2nd semester I’d like to shift focus and make it more hands on. I’d like to teach them to solder and by the end of the semester for them to build a circuit of their choice. They could copy a circuit they find on the internet, buy/build a kit, or design their own. The class will learn Eagle and put their circuit through Eagle Spice.
They all have an Arduino board in their packet and I should be able to acquire enough multimeters for everyone. Amazon has decent looking solder kits for $12/ea. I have a decent supply of resistors, caps and pots. Can acquire LEDs, op amps, transistors, etc as necessary.
I taught HS physics a long time ago, so I know the challenges of doing a lab in 50 minutes. But I’m open to advice.
I’d also love project suggestions for me to give to the class. What type of circuits are cheap (<$25?!?) and easy to build, yet still cool?
Thanks!
I offered to teach the 2nd semester for him. I’m a mechanical engineer who has dabbled in electronics for 25 years. Guitar amps, pedals, etc. I recently designed a circuit here on AllAboutCircuits; a condenser mic preamp/HPF for my guitar. Schematic, sim and layout in Eagle. Prototype PCB being made currently at Osh Park.
First semester the kids got a lot of the basics. For the 2nd semester I’d like to shift focus and make it more hands on. I’d like to teach them to solder and by the end of the semester for them to build a circuit of their choice. They could copy a circuit they find on the internet, buy/build a kit, or design their own. The class will learn Eagle and put their circuit through Eagle Spice.
They all have an Arduino board in their packet and I should be able to acquire enough multimeters for everyone. Amazon has decent looking solder kits for $12/ea. I have a decent supply of resistors, caps and pots. Can acquire LEDs, op amps, transistors, etc as necessary.
I taught HS physics a long time ago, so I know the challenges of doing a lab in 50 minutes. But I’m open to advice.
I’d also love project suggestions for me to give to the class. What type of circuits are cheap (<$25?!?) and easy to build, yet still cool?
Thanks!
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