Sharing the first build log of our STEM toy startup: why we’re building it, the tech stack, what’s working, and what’s not. Looking for advice + ideas from this crowd.
Cool idea. I grew up with the most basic Snap Circuits kit[1] and a solderless breadboard kit from RadioShack[2] - other toys you might look to for inspiration.
I think I was about 12 when I got these, and I remember that the learning curve between them was pretty steep - I was building all sorts of custom circuits with Snap, but had maxed out the capabilities of such basic parts pretty quickly. I never did figure out how to make anything other than the step-by-step projects with the breadboard kit. Although the ICs on Snap are kind of laughable, I could at least figure out what they did (also I seem to remember every one of them just played a sound), but the Radio shack kit never really explained why anything worked the way it did or what the applications were outside of its recipes, so eventually it just went on the shelf and was forgotten. That would be one trap to avoid from my experience.
Bookmarking. I grew up when those kits were science fiction from the future. Long story short, years after dinky circuits, and train-transformer power supplies, I started building microcomputers and built a career from that "hobby". I never took an electronics or computer course in my life. It's a blast.
STEM before there was STEM. :-)
I had a plan to work with kids after school to collect data in the field and analyze it on computers with open source software, and give them a CD/DVD to take home (it was that long ago) and give them access from home. Pride of ownership. "This is my work".
I am interested in how this can be implemented. Many kids aren't self-teachers, and will need some and they will need some guidance, i.e. proof and reinforcement, especially that "how to solder" part, if it comes up.
3 comments
[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 18.7 ms ] threadI think I was about 12 when I got these, and I remember that the learning curve between them was pretty steep - I was building all sorts of custom circuits with Snap, but had maxed out the capabilities of such basic parts pretty quickly. I never did figure out how to make anything other than the step-by-step projects with the breadboard kit. Although the ICs on Snap are kind of laughable, I could at least figure out what they did (also I seem to remember every one of them just played a sound), but the Radio shack kit never really explained why anything worked the way it did or what the applications were outside of its recipes, so eventually it just went on the shelf and was forgotten. That would be one trap to avoid from my experience.
[1]: https://shop.elenco.com/consumers/snap-circuits-jr-100-exper...
[2]: https://www.amazon.com/RadioShack-28-280-Electronics-Learnin...
STEM before there was STEM. :-)
I had a plan to work with kids after school to collect data in the field and analyze it on computers with open source software, and give them a CD/DVD to take home (it was that long ago) and give them access from home. Pride of ownership. "This is my work".
I am interested in how this can be implemented. Many kids aren't self-teachers, and will need some and they will need some guidance, i.e. proof and reinforcement, especially that "how to solder" part, if it comes up.