Introducing Kids to EE from Scratch -- Recommended Resources?

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

TL;DR Summary: How to get kids interested in EE started with learning basic circuits.

Hey Everyone:
I have two kids 10 and 13 who both want to be EEs when they grow up. Can someone recommend a solid and comprehensive interactive online resource, course/classes that is kid-friendly but not 'kid stupid' that can teach the principles of circuit design, one lesson at-a-time, that hopefully has circuit board simulators for trying things out before we get wiring and that is generally a really solid tool for teaching the basics from scratch?

I am looking for something that teaches at an appropriate pace but does not water down or dumb down the subject.

Thanks!

 

[Tom.G]

No specific recommendation, but a Google search for:
Electronics training online
gets many hits.

 

[berkeman]

I have two kids 10 and 13

That's great that they are interested in EE at such young ages.

Are they both comfortable with algebra? They will need that to do basic Ohm's Law calculations in order to understand basic DC circuits. And fairly soon they will want to be comfortable with trigonometric functions (sin, cos) in order to start understanding AC circuits.

In addition to online learning, I'd recommend that they build a few electronics kits. That is a great way to learn (the kit usually includes an explanation of how the circuit works), as well as getting more comfortable with hands-on building of circuits (crimping, soldering, etc.). It's best if you pick one kit at a time, build it out and use it some, and then decide on which kit to get next. The best kits are ones that give you something useful and fun to use. You can start with things like an AM radio, a digital alarm clock, etc. Do a Google search on electronics kits to see what looks interesting to you and the kids.

 

[phinds]

In addition to online learning, I'd recommend that they build a few electronics kits. That is a great way to learn (the kit usually includes an explanation of how the circuit works), as well as getting more comfortable with hands-on building of circuits (crimping, soldering, etc.). It's best if you pick one kit at a time, build it out and use it some, and then decide on which kit to get next. The best kits are ones that give you something useful and fun to use

Excellent advice

 

[CrysPhys]

Ditto. I strongly favor the hands-on approach with kits.

 

[WWGD]

How about looking into working with Arduinos? Hands on too, you can guide them along.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I do miss the old Radio Shack "50 in 1" kits. What was nice was that when you finished the 50 (or whatever) in the booklet, you knew enough to make your own projects. 10-year old me was very proud to connect an audio amplifier to a crystal radio so I could play music out of the speaker.

 

[whoohm]

Play with some basic electronics projects/kits. Recommend something with a sensor. Also, if can get access to an oscilloscope and something that generates waveforms they can have a fun visual learning experience. There are a lot of affordable kits and test gear these days. Check out SparkFun and Arduino and even Lego Robotics stuff. Just have them do anything that sounds interesting and don't worry about too much focus yet. Have fun. Also, try copying some projects from YouTube channels.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

That's great that they are interested in EE at such young ages.

Are they both comfortable with algebra? They will need that to do basic Ohm's Law calculations in order to understand basic DC circuits. And fairly soon they will want to be comfortable with trigonometric functions (sin, cos) in order to start understanding AC circuits.

In addition to online learning, I'd recommend that they build a few electronics kits. That is a great way to learn (the kit usually includes an explanation of how the circuit works), as well as getting more comfortable with hands-on building of circuits (crimping, soldering, etc.). It's best if you pick one kit at a time, build it out and use it some, and then decide on which kit to get next. The best kits are ones that give you something useful and fun to use. You can start with things like an AM radio, a digital alarm clock, etc. Do a Google search on electronics kits to see what looks interesting to you and the kids.

Hey thanks for the recommendations: yes they are algebra nerds and I think that the electronics kit is a really good idea as they are really hands on learners. So they will be learning everything from scratch, Ohms law, the concetps of current and voltage, then resistance, capacitance... etc.

I ordered a kit from Google but when it arrived the breadboard was TINY and I need something bigger for kids.
I remember when I did Circuit Design 1 in school we had huge bread boards and they were really easy to work with because of that.

That is what is getting me stuck right now it is the size of the kits that I have gotten from Amazon. Any recommendations for kits to learn the basics from scratch that are large and easy for kids' hands who are not practiced and steady just yet? Speaking for myself, it took me close to a year to get steady hands and that is for AC wiring in my house. So I don't want to frustrate aspiring and excited kids.

Thanks for all of the positive feedback!

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

Ditto. I strongly favor the hands-on approach with kits.

You guys are totally right. I overlooked that. They are particularly hands on in learning too.
Sometimes you miss important things with your own kids lol.
I am glad so many of you brought this up.

Now only to find the proper kit.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

How about looking into working with Arduinos? Hands on too, you can guide them along.

I am going to look into this. I am not an EE I am a chemE so this is a little out of my lane, so I really appreciate the suggestions.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

I do miss the old Radio Shack "50 in 1" kits. What was nice was that when you finished the 50 (or whatever) in the booklet, you knew enough to make your own projects. 10-year old me was very proud to connect an audio amplifier to a crystal radio so I could play music out of the speaker.

TOTALLY had one of those! Loved it too as the boards were super kid friendly.
I am going to do it in conjunction with the mathematics and theory I can't remember if the RS kit was compatible with that... I miss Radio Shack so much... and I miss the warehouse sized discount electronics stores that we had here in Toronto that are now either gone or have stupid high prices.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

No specific recommendation, but a Google search for:
Electronics training online
gets many hits.

Lots of them are tiny tiny... I need one with a bigger breadboard and that is where I am stuck.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

Play with some basic electronics projects/kits. Recommend something with a sensor. Also, if can get access to an oscilloscope and something that generates waveforms they can have a fun visual learning experience. There are a lot of affordable kits and test gear these days. Check out SparkFun and Arduino and even Lego Robotics stuff. Just have them do anything that sounds interesting and don't worry about too much focus yet. Have fun. Also, try copying some projects from YouTube channels.

Nice! All awesome recommendations. Second person to mention Arduino. Will check it all out.
Love the oscilloscope idea too. THen they can see what is going on. When I did my intro to circuit design in uni I had no idea what was actually going on until after I graduated and had time to read more.

Thanks for the awesome feedback!

 

[whoohm]

Very basic, but what about Snap Circuits kits?

 

[Tom.G]

How about a crystal radio? -- That is if there is a nearby AM station!

Here is a description of one I found with a fairly detailed description:
https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/remembering-the-crystal-radio

Above, and many others, found with:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=homebrew+crystal+radio

If you choose to explain the resonant circuit for tuning, a couple visual/audio equivalents could be a basic pendulum using a string and a weight, then varying the string length; or a glass container that when struck will change its pitch depending on how much water is in it.

Have Fun!
Tom

p.s. Please keep us updated on your/your kids project.

 

[Muu9]

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

How about a crystal radio? -- That is if there is a nearby AM station!

Here is a description of one I found with a fairly detailed description:
https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/remembering-the-crystal-radio

Above, and many others, found with:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=homebrew+crystal+radio

If you choose to explain the resonant circuit for tuning, a couple visual/audio equivalents could be a basic pendulum using a string and a weight, then varying the string length; or a glass container that when struck will change its pitch depending on how much water is in it.

Have Fun!
Tom

p.s. Please keep us updated on your/your kids project.

This is SO cool. My kids would love it. I am going to check it out.
Will keep you posted. Thanks for this recommendation.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

OMG I need this for myself. haha I have always had a problem as a chem process eng trying to understand what's going on in a circuit coming from a background where everything is physically imaginable. THis is SO good. I love it. Thanks so much.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I would not start with a crystal radio. They are fussy.

• Using an iPod headphone will not work. In general, people want to substitute parts and use what they can find, This seldom works.
• Most of the kits today use a variable inductor and a fixed capacitor. These inductors and finicky and while they look beefy, they are fragile. If the kit has you build them, its another source of trouble.
• The antenna is critical and most likely too short. The radio may be OK, but there is note enough power. Remember it's not just the source of signal but the source of power.

As a first project, it might be discouraging.

 

[Tom.G]

@UrbanFarmEngineer :

See my post in an associated thread suggesting a 270pf variable capacitor instead of a 365pf, they are cheaper and more available.
https://www.physicsforums.com/posts/7120989

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Muu9]

You could also check out Turing complete on steam, although that would be more CE.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

@UrbanFarmEngineer :

See my post in an associated thread suggesting a 270pf variable capacitor instead of a 365pf, they are cheaper and more available.
https://www.physicsforums.com/posts/7120989

Cheers,
Tom

Just did, thanks for the info. My kids are really into this project.
I wanted to start by teaching them the basic math first starting from Ohm's Law and onward but maybe if I guide them through a really cool project it will be a motivation to learn the math so that they can learn to build projects on their own.

I have a bad RF problem in my house at the moment (mostly due to a few factors in the neighborhood beyond my control) do you think that this will make using the radio difficult?

 

[Tom.G]

I have a bad RF problem in my house at the moment (mostly due to a few factors in the neighborhood beyond my control) do you think that this will make using the radio difficult?

Maybe, but without details even a wild guess would be pointless.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

Maybe, but without details even a wild guess would be pointless.

Good point. I will have to learn how to use my new miniSA and then I will have more details.

 

[Swamp Thing]

I was very much impressed by that video when it was posted, but now I'm not that sure it will work as a way to teach kids about electronic concepts. The connections / analogies employed there --- are they not a bit too subtle and abstract to actually help kids to learn those topics? I may be wrong, but only a pedagogical experiment with several kids, with a quiz to follow, will be really convincing.

After going through this learning path, if a couple of kids could explain correctly the connection between these mechanical systems and electrical ones, I would expect them to turn out to be far above average.

 

[Averagesupernova]

I have two kids 10 and 13 who both want to be EEs when they grow up.

That's great that they are interested in EE at such young ages.

What took them so long? I was interested pretty young and hooked by the time I was 13 for sure.

 

[UrbanFarmEngineer]

I didn't introduce them to it until recently when I started getting into it. SO it was all my fault.

So how did you start out as a kid? What were your first projects?