RSIG YALLA Summer Academy 2013
Hands-On Learning: Electricity and Electronics
During Summer 2013, Yalla partnered with Fab Lab to introduce a STEM project-based learning component into the Refugee School Impact Grant (RSIG) Youth program.
Students learned about electronics in a low-barrier and hands-on way. The class included a beginner’s overview of the use of electronics, taught as an experiential workshop series that illustrated the world of electricity in a way that engages the students in wonder and inquiry while also covering fundamental learning in science, math and technology.
Over the sessions of the course, students learned about the theories and concepts of electricity and electronics.
At the end of the course, students produced hands-on projects that involved motors and light that illustrate concepts of electricity and electronics. Additionally, all students participated in building and understanding circuits, and measuring and discussing voltage, current and resistance.
Students were engaged in learning basic physics, basic electrical engineering, technical terms and logic, as well as math applications and calculations related to determining voltage, current and resistance.
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Course Goals/ Learning Objectives
We began this course with the goal of providing a foundation in understanding basic electronics, creating an exploration and interest in these topics, and teaching the related science and math, and engaging students in becoming excited about further learning in the fields of science and technology.
This project focused on illustrating several key areas of electronics and basic robotics: current, voltage, resistance sensing, actuating, and networks. The course will take students through observation, documentation, investigation, and research of given topics, as presentation and exploration of topics.
The class was geared to meet the needs of two groups of students: K-3 and 4-8.
Learning Areas:
Throughout the class, students were engaged in several areas of learning that relate to STEM education.
The following describes the primary areas of study:
Physics / Physical Science
Math
This program related to General Common Core Standards for Mathematics, including the ability to:
– Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
– Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
– Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
– Model with mathematics.
– Use appropriate tools strategically.
– Attend to precision.
– Look for and make use of structure.
– Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
K-8 California State Science Standards for: Physical sciences, Investigation and Experimentation.
Common Core requirements for Science in grades 6-8, including the ability to:
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical
texts.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; provide an accurate
summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.3 Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments,
taking measurements, or performing technical tasks