Elmer 101 In Oregon Classroom!

By Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS and Tom Scott, KD7DMH
Thursday, Jan 4, 2001

When Tom Scott, KD7DMH, of Newberg, Oregon, contacted ARRL recently, he shared this: "This fall I'm teaching Elmer 101, a QRP ham radio class for 18 kids at a small junior and senior high school. We plan on 15 new hams using QRP CW on radios they build by the end of the year. Here is an outline of our basic program.

Prerequisites for Elmer 101: Amateur Radio Course -- None, open to all grades, nothing is required beyond basic arithmetic and a desire to learn. Lab fee is $40, and all fixed expenses have been covered by donations. Facilities include a science room with desks and lab bench space, and counter space for loaned test instruments. We plan on one or two wire antennas suspended from trees. Class motto will be CQ, universally used by radio amateurs to mean calling any station.

Overview: This course will focus on the fundamentals of electronic construction, radio theory, and ham communication with Morse code. Amateur radio knowledge is a major entry into radio frequency electronics, and a popular hobby for millions, worldwide. The course will be held twice a week for 50 minutes, and students are expected to spend at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week in related study activities outside class. There are three course goals for students: 1) Construct a 40-meter CW transceiver from a kit, estimated to require 4-8 hours depending on students experience; 2.) Learn CW at 5 words per minute to pass the FCC Element 1 test, estimated to take about 30-60 days of study with 15-20 minutes of study most days; and 3.) Study for and pass the FCC's Element 2 Technician written exam. The course will be able to support 8-12 students with limitations being one-on-one time and necessary lab facilities. Incidental goals include: 1.) briefly review amateur radio history; 2.) expose students to the broad world of amateur radio, including contests, club and organization resources (ARRL, QRP-l, QRP-ARCI, etc.), Web resources for technical assistance and advanced study topics, sources of low-cost electronic components and projects; 3.) develop students skills with hand tools and soldering circuit boards; 4.) with the approval of students, parents, and my assistance, erect an effective wire antenna at students homes; 5.) construct a Morse code key or paddle; and 6.) finish the course with confidence to tackle electronic kits. Students who successfully complete two of the three major goals will earn at least a C; any three, a B, with additional credit from quizzes and assignments and approved independent study, raising the grade to an A. Until students complete the license requirements, they can't legally transmit with their radios, so I may withhold the power transistor. The radio could still receive, but not transmit. If any student finishes the course but has no ongoing interest, there is a good market for these radios, allowing the student to recoup most of their lab fee. Any student who finishes the project and license requirements early and would like to go on can choose new projects or additional license tests. I believe in teaching that immerses students in a large amount of relatively advanced material while giving them enough support to ensure they succeed. I will make an effort to focus on the details that are directly related to the tested license requirements. The radio construction project can be completed in four hours of assembly time, the paddle or key require another hour with pre-cut materials. Some radios may not work initially and require troubleshooting. I will involve the class in the troubleshooting that can be very instructive. It is an important goal to learn from mistakes. Studying Morse code will prove difficult for many students, but I have study aids. The FCC requires a 70% score to pass the written test, and this is fairly easily attainable. Study will focus on rote memorization, as much of the material is common sense, but at the same time, valuable knowledge will be gained. It is important to get the students through the test, and then offer the opportunity to seek information of their own interest. I will give practice exams.

Proposed Daily Lesson Plan Details: Day 1--background on Amateur Radio and learn four letters of Morse code. Day 2--identify electronic components, instruction in soldering. Review Morse code. Day 3--study resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, crystals, batteries; introduce next four letters of CW. Day 4--study propagation, antennas, oscillators, detectors, amplifiers; review CW. Day 5--practice soldering by building a key; introduce next four letters of CW. Day 6--introduce FCC written test material, software and study books; review 12 letters of CW. Day 7: to be developed

Budget and Planned Lab fees: There will be a $40 Basic Lab Fee, with some optional extras. We will attempt to get sponsorship for anyone that has trouble with this. I want to keep the lab fee for the course low so it won't be an obstacle to any student who wants to participate. Inevitably, costs gets pushed up by items that are optional but desirable and others which are necessary but which amateurs have often scrounged for very little cost. Many hams build their own enclosures, but it may be difficult to manage time for this in a classroom. On the other hand it is undeniably a time-honored part of amateur radio. At the end of the term, I want to plan a weekend backpacking field trip where the class takes their radios and operates in real field conditions complete with solar-charged batteries and wire antennas. I will always be too busy, I may never be able to control my work schedule until I retire, but I cannot escape the feeling that this is more important than most everything else I do. Any questions, comments, or suggestions may be forwarded to me at: tomrscott@sterlink.net [Ed. For more information about the Elmer 101 QRP Project, underway since 1998, visit http://home.earthlink.net/~hamkitbuilder/elmer101.html]

Victor C. Clark Youth Incentive Grants $1000!

By Mary E Lau, N1VH
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Looking for some mini-grant magic to kick off your classroom program? For years, the Victor C. Clark Youth Incentive Program has helped youth clubs in classrooms and communities get that much-needed financial start. The Program matches up to $1000 of funds gathered by school or youth groups. This Program is administered by The ARRL Foundation, Inc., the philanthropic arm of ARRL, and has enjoyed steady contributor support since its inception in 1983. To apply for grant or learn more, visit http://www.arrl.org/arrlf/vicyip.html --Mary Lau, N1VH

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