Propeller Class SOLD OUT again - Need to up the ante
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So my first "Pragmatic Electronics" class went: Breadboard -> PCB design -> Chemical Etching + Through hole -> SMT design -> Offshore PCB fab -> SMT soldering skills.
That's 2 hours a night for six weeks with some homework (and a little overtime for some due to tool contention).
I'm running the class again and it's SOLD OUT with waiting list to the point where I'm out of physical space to put people in the Hackerspace. We're at physical capacity of the building :-)
At the end of the last (and first) class, people walked away with a rather snazzy LED charlieplexed badge. This year I want to up the ante.
Blue Sky? I'd love them to design and build an emulator (zx spectrum for example - my first computer - hi baggers) or maybe a console that is more US-centric. Something that once they've designed and built their own hardware instance of - it will blow their mind.
Blue Sky2? Something with a significant number of "ROMS" or game images.
Am I crazy? Anyone have any recommendations for a somewhat simple platform?
That's 2 hours a night for six weeks with some homework (and a little overtime for some due to tool contention).
I'm running the class again and it's SOLD OUT with waiting list to the point where I'm out of physical space to put people in the Hackerspace. We're at physical capacity of the building :-)
At the end of the last (and first) class, people walked away with a rather snazzy LED charlieplexed badge. This year I want to up the ante.
Blue Sky? I'd love them to design and build an emulator (zx spectrum for example - my first computer - hi baggers) or maybe a console that is more US-centric. Something that once they've designed and built their own hardware instance of - it will blow their mind.
Blue Sky2? Something with a significant number of "ROMS" or game images.
Am I crazy? Anyone have any recommendations for a somewhat simple platform?
Comments
How about something along the lines of PropellerPowered's PMC - it's currently built on top of a quickstart by adding Jeff's PMC add-on card (VGA, SD, memory, Wii, proto-area). He's currently redesigning it but you could go that route with a single board BASIC computer. Simple set top game emulations are possible. Of course, a single board Forth computer is possible. Any of thee could be designed and built with almost all through hole technology.
I'm AMAZED at the turnout you've had! This type of thing is SO HARD to get started in my area. Granted you have an established hacker space and are in a potentially more technology friendly area but still to sell out like you have and max out the capacity on your facility this quickly is impressive!
Well done!!!
This is my current favorite. I **REALLY** want to do baggers' ZX Spectrum emulator but I'm confused about the required hardware.
When I did the first class I greatly underestimated the cost of the course materials (I guessed $35) and had 20 or so students and not enough money to make it. What was meant to be a fundraiser for our local hackerspace turned into an expensive liability. Parallax took that disaster that I'd created and sponsored the class for us. My behind, saved. Thank You :-D
This is now the second class and my pricing was much more realistic and I'm proud to actually now being able to pay-it-forward for this fine company and give them our edumacation dollars.
When the first night arrived we lost some folks and by some folks, I mean 17 of my 20 students. I had three students left.
I think it was because the majority of people who signed up to the second class wanted to do it again but the change in price from $35 to $125 was too much. So, I had three students and a room full of guests because the class was immediately after our "open to the public" meeting.
I threw my Hail Mary. Announced that I would be starting my class in 15 minutes and anyone who wanted to stay and listen to the first class was welcome to. I went through the class content, what was planned for each week and handed around some of the boards we designed in the last class as well as the SkyDogCon conference badge.
One hand goes up: "Can I still sign-up?"
Me: Absolutely, see treasurer.
Within the hour the class was full again, mostly with people who we didn't know which is AWESOME as well from a hackerspace member PoV.
Once things calm down I'm going to try and compress my 6 week course into a 2 hour presentation for our local tech-talk community. They've had a thousand arduino blinky LED talks. It's time to feed them some MEAT.
Finally - one of my students is the teacher who taught the first Raspberry Pi class in a US high school. When he talks about it he openly states that the confidence that he needed to start that class was a direct result of knowing that our Hackerspace was 110% behind him.
His next project is to turn my "Pragmatic Electronics with the Parallax Propeller" class into something that can be taught in our local schools. I'm excited!
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