iMPORTANT UPDATE!

The 2011 campaign for the Education & Technology Fund is underway. Your contribution to support ARRL's successful efforts to promote Amateur Radio in stations in schools and to provide professional development for teachers in wireless technology is needed now.  The campaign goal is to raise $65,000 from ARRL members by July 31! 

Go now to the ARRL Donation Form to make the most generous contribution you can manage.  Thank you!

We'll let you know how we're doing!   

CAMPAIGN GOAL      $65,000

RESULTS SO FAR     $   5,175

TO GO                        $59,825

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Since 2002 ARRL has reached out to members and friends of Amateur Radio to share information about the organization’s educational mission - to inspire a new generation of radio amateurs - and the exciting results produced by the ARRL Education & Technology Program.   

Thousands ARRL members have responded generously and provided the vital financial resources that have produced a robust and successful series of programs to fire imaginations of hams of all ages. The Education & Technology Program is completely donor-funded, so individual contributions are critical each year.              

ARRL has embraced an educational mission dedicated to expanding horizons and thousands of new hams are discovering the magic of Amateur Radio and existing hams are eager to expand their knowledge and discover new ways to enjoy Amateur Radio.    

In 2001 former ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP launched the Education & Technology Program. Sicne then ARRL has expanded the scope of its educational initiatives. Grants of station equipment, instructional resources or opportunities for professional development have been awarded to hundreds of schools-with more schools added each year.

In 2003 ARRL launched the highly successful teacher development program in electronics, ham radio, robotics and space—the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. With a broader objective of promoting wireless technology literacy the four-day seminar has provided teachers from elementary school to the university level with basic tools and teaching strategies to introduce the science of radio, space technology, weather, microcontroller basics and robotics in their classrooms.

In 2008 the Teachers Institutes expanded the curricula to include ATV and radio astronomy. Currently, hands-on instruction during the Teachers Institute includes building project kits such as a seismometer, a 24-hour clock and A BOT Instructor’s Board to enhance the teachers’ ability to instruct basic robotics. The teachers conduct a fox-hunt activity, participate in ham satellite contacts, and observe the collection of satellite imagery transmitted by NOAA satellites. These are all activities teachers will use to engage students with interactive learning when they return to their classrooms.  

In 2009 an advanced Teachers Institute program called TI-2 to focus training for previous Teachers Institute graduates on Space in the classroom. The program in 2009 helped prepare schools for ARISS contacts.  In 2010 the TI-2 on space will be held along with a second advanced course in electronics.           

Each year reports from participating schools tell us that the resources we offer are bearing fruit, both in terms of licensing students and teachers and engaging them in Amateur Radio. Teachers are using Amateur Radio as a tool for exploring wireless technology, and are integrating programming, robotics and electronics along with space, geography, weather, satellites, astronomy and applications for math and data analysis. And an increasing number of inquiries come from community colleges and technical schools that are interested in using our materials.                

Other resources funded by the Education & Technology Program, including a Transistor Amplifier Board, a TV remote Decoder Board, a Modulation and Demodulation Board, no solder projects and a Solder 101 kit, a Fox Controller board and Satellite Controller Interfaces contribute to the stable of materials available to teachers and schools.                

A Basic Electronics Course and Kit has attracted the attention of a work force development program that requested 300 of our course kits.                

ARRL is receiving increasing demands from volunteer instructors and the general public for instructional tools, indicating that there may be an opportunity to establish a leadership role for ARRL to provide needed educational tools for a public audience.                

The future of these exciting educational programs and resources development will only be as promising as your generous financial contributions will support. The accomplishments of the Education & Technology Program are a direct result of the generosity of thousands of radio amateurs. 

If you would like to support the Education & Technology Fund with a pledge of $10 or more a month on your credit card, please contact the Development Office by phone at 860-594-0397 or by e-mail to mhobart@arrl.org to arrange a billing schedule.

Thank you for being as generous as you can.

Important note: ARRL is an IRS-designtaged 501(c)(3) organization holding Federal tax ID #06-6000004.  Contributions to ARRL are teax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Make a donation now >

ARRL Education Mission and Vision Statement

ARRL will advance the art and science of radio through education,

(1) by providing instruction and instructional materials to prepare new Amateur Radio operators for licensing as well as to prepare licensed amateurs to upgrade to higher levels of licenses;

(2) by advancing the knowledge of radio science and operating skills among licensed operators through instruction, publications and activities;

(3) by training radio amateurs in the skills needed to provide service to their communities in times of emergency;

(4) by engaging youth in the magic of radio, inspiring them to further personal investigation in the sciences and engineering as well as expanding their horizons to promote global goodwill through contact with cultures around the world; and

(5) by expanding interest and understanding of the science of radio and the application of wireless technology in daily life.

Through its educational efforts ARRL will enrich lives through lifelong learning and achievement and provide service to local communities. ARRL’s educational outreach objective is to inspire exploration in radio science and serve as a catalyst for new scientific discoveries and new technologies.