The 3 Rs plus Electronics?

The history of electronics is very short compared to the history of homo-sapiens which began about 300,000 years ago. However, development in electronics has been extremely fast, changing the way we live and how we do business. It is difficult to think of our society without television, mobile phones, the Internet and computers. We rely on microwaves, remote controls, and satellite dishes, keyless entries, global positioning devices and even baby monitors in everyday life. Demand for these modern communication devices has created a need for skilled employees who can help design, develop, install, test and maintain them.

Schools concentrate on the 3 Rs - reading writing, 'rithmetic but some do not take into account the changing skills needed to survive in the evolving world. For most of us, words used in the study of electronics are like speaking a foreign language. What is a diode, a capacitor, or resistor, and how do they manage electrons flowing through a wire? What will developments in nano-technology bring to the future and will our lives continue to be propelled into unknown realms? Will I be on the "band wagon" or have to jump off because the unknown is too scary?

My children and grandchildren are far more adept at using the computer, making Internet connections, managing their iPods and MP3 players than I am. They seem to have an intuitive sense of how to connect to the information they want and how to repair problems that have gone wrong in their electrical devices. My granddaughter tells me it is "just a generation thing". Is her mind wired differently than mine? Children as early as 3 years are being introduced to the computer in a way so that it has almost become an extension of their bodies. New software vocabulary is embraced with ease.

Though most schools and families do not think of the hardware part of computers in the same way they do the software part, many jobs of the future are going to go to those who understand the electronics behind the device. These people are going to be able to repair our cars, computers, and phones. They are going to be the ones developing new technology to make devices go even faster. They are the pace setters.

Becoming comfortable with technology, terminology, and the ability to change is part of our future. It is time to start introducing children as early as eight to the vocabulary and challenge of electronics so they also will be at ease with the idea of managing electrical flow to produce work. Many people turn to NPR's Car Talk to understand what is wrong and how to fix their cars. In the future there may be an "Electronics Talk" to help fix household devices. For such a show to be possible there needs to be a great many savvy people who talk the talk.

Math and physics teach underlying principles. Electronics show practical applications and helps give reason to the hours of classroom work that a child endures. Electronics offers a great outlet for creative people. It is its own art form using logical thinking to solve problems. Just as understanding something about cars is useful when you need repairs, knowing something about electronics is helpful in working with repairmen. For the inspired who like creative challenges the field is blossoming and "electronics speak" is equal to "future speak."

New electrical devices will also create ethical dilemmas. For instance, children at birth could be easily tagged with an electronic device placed under their skin that will follow them through life. We now track animals in the wild. Why not people? Without understanding what is being developed it will be difficult to participate in the ethical discussion. A democracy only works if you have an informed citizen group. Understanding electronics and contemporary technology in general is part of embracing the world of knowledge.

Museum Tour Catalog offers a way to get started in electronics by playing with simple toys like Elenco's Snaptricity. As you become more comfortable you can switch to circuit boards. These devices teach children the basics of controlling electrical flow to make something happen. They are hands-on activities that produce satisfaction because there is a visible result.

Not only do these toys develop a comfort with the terminology of electronics but they teach children the valuable lesson of following directions. Electronic directions are not much more difficult than following a dress pattern once you learn to understand the underlying principles. Electronics education also offers hand-eye coordination since wires and snap together parts need to be managed carefully. Most of all the field opens a window for creative problem solving, a skill that transfers to other aspects of life.

Items that will stimulate your family's interest in electronics include: Caption Camera; Sylvania 8.9" G Meso XP Bundle; Text Messenger; R/C Snap Circuit Rover Deluxe.