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

This post is the September 2023 update to what's going on with EEME and our new Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit.

In this post, we'll cover:

• The "intro" Learning Curricula Package is published - what your family will learn
• What's next?

Recap: the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit + "intro" Learning Curricula Package

EEME's new Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit teaches kids electronics and Python coding thru the making and programming of various circuit projects.

This "Learning Kit" includes an "intro" Learning Curricula Package to build and program an automatic night light and display panel circuit. More importantly, the "intro" Learning Curricula Package also teaches the students the electrical engineering and Python programming concepts applied in the projects - 12 hours of building and learning in total.

The "intro" Learning Package Curricula is published

After about 6 months of work, we have finally published the entirety of the "intro" Learning Package Curricula. Specifically, we published the final Part 2 of DIY Display where students will write Python code to control the segment LED component of project.

What's a segment LED? It's an old-school type of display, before the days of LED/LCD screens, used to display letters and numbers. A segment LED, aka SLED, is simple, efficient, and cheap to manufacture. Multiple SLED's can be grouped together to form words or multi-digit numbers.

During DIY Display Part 2, as with all EEME's Learning Curricula, the students will watch video lessons that guide them on how to build the circuits and write the Python code to complete various experiments and projects. More importantly, our curricula also teaches the students how the circuit and code they write works.

The learning and coding is done directly from our browser-based application so no external software downloads or setups are needed.

What is included in the "intro" Learning Curricula Package?

The "intro" Learning Curricula Package is the interactive "textbook", that is included with the purchase of the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit.

In its entirety, the "intro" Learning Curricula Package is broken down into 6 curricula:

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
4. Genius Light - Part 3 of 3: Build the Final Night Light LED Circuit
5. DIY Display - Part 1 of 2: Build an Electronics-Only Segment LED Circuit
6. DIY Display - Part 2 of 2: Control the Segment LED Circuit with Python Code

Each curriculum is further broken down into 12 - 20 lessons allowing students to stop and pause however their schedule (and attention span) dictates.

What do the students learn with the "intro" Learning Curricula Package?

Upon completing the "intro" Learning Curricula, the students would have learned about:

• Microcontroller concepts
  • Firmware
  • GPIOs
• Electronics components - breadboards, LEDs, resistors, photoresistors, segment LEDs, switch panels
• Basic electronics concepts - electric current, voltage, resistance
• Intermediate electronics concepts
  • Current sourcing versus sinking
  • Voltage as relative differences in "electric potential" between two points
  • What is "ground"?
  • Voltage dividing
  • Relationship between current and resistance
  • Anode versus cathode
• Python coding concepts
  • Conditionals - if/else
  • Loops - for and while
  • Lists

In all, the "intro" Learning Curricula is about 12 hours of building and learning.

Next up - focus on improving EEME's browser-based learning application and learning experience

As students have started to learn with our "intro" curricula and Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit, we've come across ideas for improving the experience with using own browser-based learning application. That includes major categories of improvements such as:

1. Making it easier for students to find the projects they want to work on, especially those new to EEME.
2. More obvious help sections, with bigger images.
3. Auxiliary lessons to clarify concepts learned - especially the coding concepts.

The last point is the elephant in the room. While putting together the "intro" Learning Curricula Package, we learned that it is difficult to completely teach coding concepts while limiting the learning experience to a 1.5-2 hour time duration. For example, you can spend 30-60 minutes alone on completely teaching the nuances of just a Python while loop. In our "intro" curriculam we opted to teach the students the general details of various coding concepts. The plan is to add auxiliary lessons (for students to work on afterwards) to learn and fine tune the details of those coding concepts.

Misc - ongoing Monthly "office hours"

We continue to host monthly "office hours" on Facebook. Despite being very uneventful, we will continue to host these office hours to allow you, the EEME community, to come and ask questions, offer suggestions, etc. in a real-time like manner.

The next Facebook "Office Hour" will be held on October 12, 2023 at 11:30am Pacific Time. You can RSVP, set a reminder with this Facebook Event.

Conclusion

So this concludes the updates for September.

The goals for October are:

1. To make improvements to the EEME browser-based learning application

2. We will hold monthly office hours on EEME's Facebook Page on October 12th at 11:30am PT.

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"