I've been going through this as well, teaching a group of boys, trying make it fun yet educational but only one out of three has an interest. Here is a few things that worked and some that didn't.
Being teenage boys they thought this book was good. https://www.amazon.com/High-Tech-Practical-Jokes-Evil-Genius-ebook/dp/B00115TAJ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384877213&sr=8-1&keywords=practical jokes electronics but i realize your class would probably be more advanced with robots and stuff.
- Learning a DMM and o-scope they really liked, having that visual feedback and it wasn't so abstract. You could see when changing a resistor what that did to the current and apply that to Ohms law.
- Wiring 555 timers was okay, kind of anti-climatic for all that work and only see a LED flash. But of course you can use 555's for many things.
- Soldering was fun as well especially when breadboards can be fragile.
- There needs to be an end project in mind, something that grabs their imagination or interest. Relays that drive motors or somekind of a Rube Goldberg-ish crazy apparatus.
Picaxe seems to be an ok chip and very easy to program, though I read it is quite limited and I aint liking the BASIC language, but ya probably need that or flowchart for themdidnt goto school today as i was up all night being sick, Ian has made some good points, but i have been thinking about this all night, mainly because for the last couple of years i have searched everywhere for a course or someplace someone my age can go and learn this stuff and there just isnt anywhere. School does its best i guess, where we lived in Devon last year mum and dad drove me 55 miles round trip each day to a technology school as it was meant to place a heavy bias towards science and especially technology, the place was ok but the teaching was awful especially electronics, the Teacher was really nice but electronics teaching was his job and he had no interest in it so he read the class sheets handed out the work and that was it, even to the point that he had to google how to work out the resistor for a led because we wanted to add one to a project! we had the chance to do our own projects for the end of course work, i did a line follower with a few extra's on it, when it came time to mark the projects not one teacher in my school was able to understand my project or read any of my schematics or or projects notes. I got top marks but it fely hollow because i knew the marks were given by someone who didnt have a clue if my project was good or not!
so anyway back on track, sorry i got lost there.
the point is your course should offer more than is available, you will soon know who is really caught the bug or not so take something like a line follower, the one you linked to was ok but i bet there is a cheaper better way, find bare cheap chassis and scour ebay for cheap Chinese components like the resistors and Leds all motors. personally i would still go pic route but to make it easier maybe consider something like flow code, reason is if some or even one of them really takes to it then you have the chance to take that person into C code because you can tweak flow code as it outputs C anyway, no one is left behind then, some/most will do it all in flow code others will get home google and tweak there code in C (i would anyway). Contact microchip and tell them what you are doing be concise but leave nothing out (phone call best) then ASK for the chips as samples (not just pics but anything else you might need that they do), Microchip have been great with me and i think they would really help you out.
As for sound and leds this is where a line follower would be good choice, you can put leds on to indicate when the left/right sensor has detected the edge ect, as for sound then something like adding simple IR obstacle detector that beeps when it detects a obstacle in its path and makes other noises depending on what it is doing, never really got into flow code but that kind of thing should be easy to do in it and you can always tweak it.
main thing keep the maths to minimum for all but the most interested, spend 60% time building 30% coding and 10% theory. Most classes do the theory part of the lesson first then the fun stuff, if it was me and i was a teacher i would go straight to the building and other stuff then spend 10/15 mins at end explaining the theory behind what they have done. my reason for this is at the start of any lesson kids need time to settle and if you do the theory first none goes in, build first then most will by the end of the lesson want/be ready to be told how and why it was done like that
edit actually being sick was my excuse to mumi am way behind on my home project and only had art and PE and social studies at school so stayed home
edit 2
actually line follower is ok but maybe one that dosnt follow a line but just avoids obstacles then they can build mazes etc and more scope for sound and light
Sure that could be a nice way to go. But again I need to wait and hear what the school has to sayanother thing! if i was you i would offer a advanced course (they must do the first course first tho) promote it in the first course and do something like those gyro copter things with 4 motors on, its on my must build list, plenty scope for great learning and more complex tasks like pwm balancing etc and and with the ultra cheap Chinese wireless modules that are I2C you can build a really great project cheaply with loads of topics that can be covered! and trust me most kids would love one!
i dont mess with flow code myself but i do know you can tweak it with C and C is kind of what it converts to. moveing little box's about on a screen is easy enough for even the mostPicaxe seems to be an ok chip and very easy to program, though I read it is quite limited and I aint liking the BASIC language, but ya probably need that or flowchart for themI don't believe the picaxe programmer outputs C, or atleast I havnt figured out yet. It does create the BASIC language.
I am gonna speak with the school tomorrow and then I know what budget and how many hours Ive got. I will definitely try and make only fun sessions and do some creative projects. I imagined more theory but I am gonna throw that away for now.
i dont mess with flow code myself but i do know you can tweak it with C and C is kind of what it converts to. moveing little box's about on a screen is easy enough for even the moststupidwell for just about anyone but then you also have a tool that the lessstupidmore advanced student can use by tweaking it in C so unlike basic wich lets face it isnt basic to learn flow code would let you do more fun advanced stuff without theidiotsless advanced people being left out or out of there depth, most students would cough say £15 - £20 towards there own robot kit, and with careful blagging its surprising what companies like MC will donate if asked in the right way (i got free ICD3! off them and they have given me a sample's account).
as for more theory i think best chance for that is informal theory I.E wait to be asked why or how something works (you will be asked) then you add in the extra theory, most times when teachers do that kinda thing in my old school most the class ends up gathered around listening. you just gotta think like a kid (easy just turn your brain off and have fun)
aww thanks for that it's a really nice thing to say! most of my knowledge is from here!! i read books as well but the stuff i read and dont understand i get explained here, so my schooling in electronics is all down to the great people on here who take the time and trouble to answer my questions and explain things to me without making me feel like i have asked a stupid question! that gives me confidence to try more stuff read more things and ask alot more questions. it's a shame school isnt more like ETO.Hi LG
The electronics world need's more teachable, interested and intelligent young people like you. You are still supposedly a "kid" now. I can only but think of how great and well you will do once you are finished schooling etc. Your roots are sound and stable. You have astonishing knowledge for your age.
You have my utmost respect. Tell Dad (Jason) that he has a Champ in you. And always stay level headed and fair.
You are destined for great things
Regards,
tvtech
i dont mess with flow code myself but i do know you can tweak it with C and C is kind of what it converts to. moveing little box's about on a screen is easy enough for even the moststupidwell for just about anyone but then you also have a tool that the lessstupidmore advanced student can use by tweaking it in C so unlike basic wich lets face it isnt basic to learn flow code would let you do more fun advanced stuff without theidiotsless advanced people being left out or out of there depth, most students would cough say £15 - £20 towards there own robot kit, and with careful blagging its surprising what companies like MC will donate if asked in the right way (i got free ICD3! off them and they have given me a sample's account).
as for more theory i think best chance for that is informal theory I.E wait to be asked why or how something works (you will be asked) then you add in the extra theory, most times when teachers do that kinda thing in my old school most the class ends up gathered around listening. you just gotta think like a kid (easy just turn your brain off and have fun)
congratulations on the job!!Weeeelllll
I got the jobstarting next year.
Pew pew that was awesome, I allways wanted to educate people, since I allways felt good at it. The interview made me realise, that the things I can bring to that kind of school, is so great that any fun projects with just a tiny amount of learning, is enough to be great. So I am going to do more fun stuff, less sleepy stuff.
All fun ideas are welcome
I am going to start out with picaxe and Basic, since they where all over 17 years old, not 14 as I thought.
congratulations on the job!!
i dont want to be negative but at 17 picaxe and basic will cripple them! most will get stuck with basic and never move on and at 17 the picaxe isnt much of a challenge. personally i would still go pic and maybe C C18 or C8 is free as well as good IDE's and they do student versions. flashing leds and beeping speakers isnt going to do it at 17! quad copter wireless is more interesting but i am kinda too far from 17 to actually know for sure except my mates elder brothers have never shown any interest in my LED cube but were slightly into my line bot with metal detector on it.i would raise the bar for that age group and add a bit more theory as well not much but a smidge and do the theory first part off lesson as 17 is more settled than 14 and will expect to be told at start of each lesson what the goal is and why XYZ is being done, but like i say its out of my age range so i am making rough guess based on elder brothers i know rather than actual class experience with that age group.
gut feeling up the bar
Thank you, I willHi Simon
Awesome. Follow your heart when teaching...Try to teach and do things that would of have made you happy as a keen learner.
Keep the fun coming while educating them. You are going to a be great success if you follow this route.
Congrats on the job. And please keep me posted
All the best,
tvtech
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