ARRL Teachers Institute on Technology

The Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI) is a week long, in-residence learning opportunity designed for motivated teachers and other school staff who want to learn more about wireless technology and bring that knowledge to their students. A variety of topics are covered during the 4 days of the TI including basic wireless technology literacy, electronics, and the science of radio; bringing space into the classroom; ham radio operation; introduction to micro controllers; and basic robotics.

The Teachers Institute is only the beginning of a participant’s exploration with wireless technology. The goal of the TI program is to equip each teacher with necessary foundational knowledge, and through hands-on learning, generate the inspiration for teachers to continue to explore wireless technology and adapt relevant content into their classroom instruction.

Just a few examples of some of the activities teachers who have participated in the Teachers Institute have initiated upon return to their classrooms include:

·         Using weather imagery gathered by the students for environmental studies.

·         Using TV remotes to control simulated “smart homes.”

·         Radio Direction Finding (RDF) activities to study how naturalist track wildlife.

·         School competitions during the School Club Round-up, a nation wide ham radio contest for schools.

·         Geography lessons using QSL card (postcards collected from ham contacts around the world).

·         A school wide space exploration curriculum including radio stations to receive signals from space and participation in the NASA Explorer School Program.

·         Radio contacts between participating schools.

·         Using radio in ESL classrooms to listen to live broadcasts from countries that use the languages as their native tongue.

 

More information about the Institute, including how teachers may apply for scholarships, is available at:

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html

 

Teachers also have a final exam!

As part of their activities, the teachers construct their own robotic vehicles which must navigate a maize, trail each other and even perform “synchronized carpet swimming.”