EEME makes hands-on learning kits + online lessons to teach kids electronics and Python coding.

As we started to ship the new Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kits, June ended up a lot busier than anticipated!

This post is the June 2023 update to what's going on with EEME. In this post, we'll cover:

• Learning Kits -versus- Learning Curricula Packages
• How are Learning Curricula designed and published
• Current Learning Curricula progress and future roadmap for the new Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit
• Non-EEME Parenting-Educator story - nurturing presentation skills

What is the difference between an EEME Learning Kit versus a Learning Curricula Package?

A Learning Kit is a box of components.

A Learning Curricula Package is a bundle of online lessons to learn and build using the components from a Learning Kit.

When you purchase our new Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit, it also includes an "intro" Learning Curricula Package. This "intro"" Learning Curricula Package teaches and guides the students to build a number of "intro" projects (more on that in the sections below).

While it may initially seem like we are over-coplicating things with terminology, we hope this update post will help you understand why we distinguish between a Learning Kit and a Learning Curricula Package.

How is an EEME Learning Curriculum designed and published?

Before we mention our current progress, we hope to talk a bit about how our "Learning Curriculum" is developed.

Once there is a final project idea in place (ie let's build and teach how a night-light circuit works), there are a number steps we undertake towards the creation and publishing of the 12 or so lessons that comprise of a single Learning Curriculum.

1. Brainstorm sub-topics & sub-projects the students can learn about and build along the way towards the understanding of the final project.
2. Prototyping the sub-projects' and final project's circuits and the associated Python program code.
3. Create an outline of lessons - together, these lessons comprise of the content for the Curriculum.
4. For the majority of our lessons which are video based, we script each lesson.
5. Record the A/V for the lessons which usually involves multiple takes.
6. Produce the A/V using video editing software.
7. Upload the final video lessons to our video hosting platform (currently, we use YouTube).
8. Publish all the lessons on EEME's website. This includes the video, coding, and occasional text-based lessons, Q/A summary quizzes, and helper material - all of which makes up a single Learning Curricula.

While we ideally strive to take these steps in a linear fashion, but realistically, we iterate back and forth amongst the steps due to mistakes, content corrections, inconsistencies in lesson materials, etc.. What goes wrong, usually can go wrong!!

Additionally, upon brainstorming and outlining, a project idea may end having an extremely large scope. This will require us to break it up into multiple curricula - as was the case with the night-light Genius Light project, which we had to break up into 3 curricula parts (see below).

What curricula are included in the "intro" Learning Curricula Package?

For the "intro" Learning Curricula Package included with the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit purchase, we currently have the following three (3) curricula published:

1. Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit: Intro & Set Up
2. Genius Light - Part 1 of 3: Build a Simple LED Circuit with only Electronics Components
3. Genius Light - Part 2 of 3: Simple LED Circuit with Python Coding

Each curriculum consists of 12 to 15 lessons. The majority of the lessons are video-based. Each lesson is designed to take about 8 minutes to complete on average, allowing the students to easily stop at various points for a "snack-break", etc..

When will "Genius Light - Part 3 of 3" be published? Why the delay?

We had initially estimated "Genius Light - Part 3 of 3: Build the Final Night Light LED Circuit" to be published by June 30th. Clearly that did not happen. June ended up more hectic than anticipated. A number of factors caused this delay.

As we shipped out the early-launch purchases of the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kits, we inevitably encountered logistics, software, and lesson issues ("bugs" in engineering speak). The 5 or so issues ended up swallowing a couple of weeks of time.

I, EEME Dad, also had a non-EEME commitment to fulfill (more on that later) which swallowed up another 2 weeks.

But despite these factors, we (ahem, "I") have most of Part 3 scripted.

The next couple of weeks in July should be distraction free so we hope to publish Part 3 by July 15th.

Since we didn't publish new curricula, we did not increase the discounted early-adopter pricing for the Python Coding and Electronics Learn Kit.

What other curricula will come after "Genius Light - Part 3 of 3"?

The "intro" Learning Curricula Package (included with the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit) will include at least 6 curricula (of which we've already published 3 of them - see above) - totaling to be at least 12 hours of building, coding, and learning.

In addition to "Genius Light - Part 3 of 3", we plan to publish 2 more curricula for a display-panel project.

The 6 curricula from the "intro" Learning Curricula Package will consist of about 12 hours of learning and building.

What are the plans after the final publishing of the "intro" Learning Curricula Package?

Moving forward, we will create and offer follow-on Learning Curricula Packages that advance in concepts taught.

Similar to the "intro" Learning Curricula Package that is bundled with the Learning Kit purchase, each new follow-on Learning Curricula Package will consist of multiple projects, with at least 10 hours of learning and building.

For the next 6 to 12 months, any follow-on Learning Curricula Packages offered will re-use the components from the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit, hence will be priced cheaper than the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit.

In the far future, we may create Learning Curricula Packages that uses new add-on Learning Kits (ahem, robotics projects in the future??).

What were the non-EEME commitments that led to the delay in publishing Part 3?

Since 2018, I have been invited to present a STEM workshop at a conference for families of gifted children. My 1.5 hour workshop usually leverages material from EEME, and is given to a children from ages 7+.

This year's workshop was about Mobile Robots. Part of this workshop involved the design and 3D printing of a custom bracket for the robot.

My son turned 11 years old this year and developed an interest for 3D modeling and 3D printing. So I tasked him to design the bracket (with lots of guidance from myself).

Additionally I also enlisted him as a co-presenter for the workshop, to describe and showcase the 3D design, modeling, and printing process he used for the custom bracket.

In addition to this being an opportunity for my son to learn the art of communication and presentation, I also thought it important to have other kids see kids present and teach, perhaps inspiring them to not shy away, and seek out opportunities to present themselves.

The preparation for this dual-presenter workshop took a lot longer than I had anticipated. If you are curious about details of what the preparation entailed, feel free to reach out. Happy to discuss as a fellow parent / parent-educator.

But in summary, while students should definitely master STEM subjects, I also strongly believe that Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids should get comfortable with public presentation. Both are necessary tools (among many others) to help them prep for the opportunities that await them.

Misc - ongoing Monthly "office hours"

As mentioned in the last update, each month, we will host an "office hour" session on EEME's Facebook page allowing you, the EEME community, to come and ask questions, offer suggestions, etc..

Our last June office hour was very very uneventful (no one showed up!).

• Is this because Facebook is the wrong platform to host Office Hours? If so, any suggestions on alternatives?
• Did people forget? Maybe there was conflict in schedule? How can we better remind the community?
• Or people just don't have questions. Maybe our blog updates answer everything?! 99.99% unlikely!?

This month's Facebook "Office Hour" will be help on July 13, 2023 at 11:00am Pacific Time. You can mark your calendars with this Facebook Event.

Conclusion

So hopefully that updates the EEME community about what has happened in June. Here's a summary diagram for the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit and "intro" Learning Curricula Package to further clarify differences.

The goals for July are:

1. To publish "Genius Light - Part 3 of 3: Build the Final Night Light LED Circuit" and begin work on the final 2 curricula for the "intro" Learning Curricula Package.

   In the meantime, check out / purchase EEME's new Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit which is still offered at May's early adopter discount pricing. Your family can start learning ASAP with the 3 curricula that are already published.

   Upon the publishing of "Genius Light - Part 3 of 3", the price will increase accordingly.

2. As mentioned before, we will hold monthly office hours on EEME's Facebook Page on July 13th at 11am PT, where we'll answer questions and share ideas.

As usual if you have any additional questions, suggestions, feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out!!

Thanks so much and happy building (and coding)!!
Jack "EEME Dad"