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

This post is the August 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 final DIY Display project - part 1 (of 2) published
• Behind-the-scenes of DIY Display part 1
• What's after the "Intro" Learning Curricula Package
• Parenting thoughts - LinkedIn for kids??

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.

Refer to this past post to understand the difference between a "Learning Kit" and "Learning Curricula Package".

DIY Display part 1 Learning Curriculum published

For those new to EEME, the "intro" Learning Curricula Package is still a work-in-progress. This month (Aug 2023), we published the 5th curriculum - project DIY Display part 1. There will be 6 curricula in total for the enture "intro" Learning Curricula Package - so we are very close to publishing the entire "intro" Package (more on that later).

As with the previous project Genius Light:

1. We first have the students build circuits using only electronics-components - no Python coding. Along the way, we teach them the electronics concepts needed to understand how that electronics-only circuit works.

2. Then in a subsequent curriculum(s), we have the students build the same circuits using Python code they write - also teaching them the coding and electronics concepts needed to understand how their Python code works and interacts with the circuit.

The DIY Display part 1 curriculum is the electronics-only portion of the project. No Python coding is involved in DIY Display part 1.

The students will circuits to experiment and learn about:

• Segment LEDs
• Relationship between resistance and electric current
  • A gentle introduction to Ohm's Law (usually taught in high school)
• Switch panels
• Cathode versus anode

... about 2 hours of learning and building.

If we include the previous 4 curricula in the "intro" Package, we have 10 hours of learning and building total.

Any "behind-the-scenes" footage from the production of DIY Display Part 1?

A curriculum is composed of a number of lessons - 20 lessons for DIY Display Part 1.

One of the lessons in DIY Display was totally scripted incorrectly. While it would have been funny to publish behind-the-scenes footage, unfortunately, the audio remarks would not be rated PG.

It took a good portion of one week to create and inject new audio and video footage to fix the mistakes. We (ie I, EEME Dad) tried really hard to match the audio "timbre" of the patched portions to the rest of the original footage.

Something fun to do - as your family works on DIY Display part 1, note the timestamp and lesson where you find the injected "patch fixes". Email those to me. If you correctly find them, we'll send you an EEME promo code for your attnentiveness!

What about DIY Display part 2? What's in the part 2 curriculum?

DIY Display part 2 will have students modify their segment LED circuit so that they can write Python code to control the segment LED. We'll revisit from of the previous concepts learned in part 1, as well as have the students implement and learn about Python functions.

All the Python code written, will be done with EEME's online browser-based coding environment.

We plan to have DIY Display part 2 published by next month - September 30th, 2023.

DIY Display part 2 will be the final part of project DIY Display. Part 2 will also be the final curriculum for the "intro" Learning Curricula Package that is included with the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit. When DIY Display part 2 is published, we would have fully published the "intro" Learning Curricula Package.

Follow-on Learning Curricula Packages in the future

The "intro" Learning Curricula Package is bundled with your purchase of the Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit. But your Learning Kit purchase actually has tons of parts and components which are unused by the "intro" Learning Curricula Package.

For the remainder of 2023 and most of 2024, we have plans to publish and sell follow-on Learning Curricula Packages that use / re-use parts and components from your initial Learning Kit purchase. We have plans for the following projects:

• Alarm circuits
• Fading light circuits
• Countdown timer circuits
• Infrared light detector circuits
• Tone generator circuits
• Touch-sensitive circuits

As with all EEME projects, the students will build electronics-only circuits and then build circuits to be controlled by Python code they write within EEME's browser-based coding environment. Along the way, they'll learn the electronics and Python coding concepts used by the circuit.

That's the plan. But as each month passes, we do continuously update our plans (especially the schedules) and inform you of changes.

Parenting thoughts - LinkedIn for kids?

It's inevitable that our kids will have a very publicly visible online presence. I've been trying to coach my 11 and 7 year old about the importance of managing that online presence responsibly. Silly things they post (or their friends post) will be hard to remove online.

Instead, I am trying to coach them to be shameless and confident about publicly posting about things they are proud of - things they learned, things they make, problems they solved / wish to solve, accomplishments they achieved. This can include EEME projects as well as Khan Academy lessons they undertook, 3D printed objects they designed and created, author and publish educational content for other kids, perhaps even adults.

But where can my kids post about these to garner community feedback? Where can they (safely) check out what other kids / peers are up to and provide their constructive feedback to them?

I do all of this myself - mostly through LinkedIn. I'm not sure how much of the EEME parent community uses LinkedIn, but whatever ends up posted on LinkedIn is mostly thoughtful and professional. It's exactly how I would want my kids to treat their online presence.

Unfortunately LinkedIn does not allow anyone younger than 16 years old from having an account. Does anyone know of another site like LinkedIn for kids? Please share with me your thoughts on this - dad@eeme.co.

Misc - ongoing Monthly "office hours"

For those new to EEME, we host monthly "office hours" on Facebook. These monthly office hour sessions 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 September 14, 2023 at 11:30am Pacific Time. You can RSVP, set a reminder with this Facebook Event.

Conclusion

So this concludes the updates for August.

The goals for September are:

1. To publish "DIY Display - Part 2 of 2" for the "intro" Learning Curricula Package.

   In the meantime, check out / purchase EEME's new Python Coding and Electronics Learning Kit. The "early-adopter" pricing has increased slightly from the previous month due to the recent publishing of DIY Display - Part 1 of 2.

   Upon the publishing of "DIY Display - Part 2 of 2" in September, the price will increase to the full launch price. So get the "early-adopter" price before the increase!!

2. We will hold monthly office hours on EEME's Facebook Page on September 14th 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"