Amateur Radio in the Classroom

Help Get Amateur Radio into a Classroom Near You!


Everywhere teachers look for new ways to excite students and encourage learning.  Likewise, amateur radio operators seek ways to populate a wonderful hobby with a new generation of new hams.  There is an opportunity just around the corner that will help both camps.

The Radio Club of Junior High School 22 is the nation’s only full-time, non-profit organization working to get amateur radio into classrooms around the country as a teaching tool using the EDUCOM program (Education Through Communication).  Members of the “22 Crew” are conducting a FREE Teacher’s Meeting on Saturday, July 12, 2003 at Jackie Gaughan's Plaza Hotel & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas.  Admission is free, and special rates, discounts, and activities have been arranged for attendees, families, and guests.

The Teacher’s Meeting is not limited to educators—anyone interested in helping get Ham Radio into schools as a teaching tool will benefit from attending.  Speakers include club President Joe Fairclough, WB2JKJ, History Professor and former ARRL Section Manager for South Carolina, Dave Berry, KE4W, and American Amateur Radio Association President Glen Baxter, K1MAN.  Others will be on hand to share their experiences using Ham Radio in the classroom.

Hotel reservations can be made by calling (800) 634-6575.  The Plaza web site is at http://www.plazahotelcasino.com/.  A flyer for this event is available at the RCJHS 22 site.

 

I did a ham radio demonstration in my daughter's fifth grade classroom here in Colorado Springs this past Tuesday.  My friend Pat Curtin, N9GOC, in Champaign, Illinois was very helpful at the other end of the QSO.  Thanks Pat!  

The kids really love these demonstrations, and there is lots of learning and imagination that can and does take place.

I'm working on setting up an ARISS contact for the school for next year.

73,

Steve Williams, K0SRW
Colorado Springs, CO

 

Why are you still involved with K1MAN? Don't you realize he is a charlatin? He will eventually destroy ALL the good work you are doing.

You don't need Glen Baxter. The most hated man in ham radio today. He will be removed from ham radio soon. Do you want to be pulled down with him?

Dan/W4NTI

 

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Dan/W4NTI [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

This coming from the Ham who called Gary N4MRF's XYL a "whore" on 3.898 KHZ....

Practice what you preacher, Dan!

and further more, last time I checked, you ain't winning no dang medals for your stinking personality either!

Stupid Troll

HIT THE ROAD!

 

 

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (w4nti @ June 04 2003,17:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Why are you still involved with K1MAN?  Don't you realize he is a charlatin?   He will eventually destroy ALL the good work you are doing.  

You don't need Glen Baxter.  The most hated man in ham radio today.   He will be removed from ham radio soon.  Do you want to be pulled down with him?

Dan/W4NTI[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I dont think this has anything to do with what this is about. I think it is great that someone is at least trying to get radio out of the shack and in to the schools.
Good work and good luck.

Now,why is this guy k1man the most hated man in ham radio? I have seen his name but I still dont get it!!!.
email me so that we dont kill this thread with a lot of flaming.

73
kd5icr@arrl.net
Bill

 

Joel, take the bull by the horns and play missionary for Amateur Radio. Get your local club to help get a school club going. You can be the start of something big! Springfield has a lot of great things going for it (AND a Pro Bass Shop&#33

 

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Springfield has a lot of great things going for it (AND a Pro Bass Shop! [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Don't forget the Simpsons live there.

Great Job!!

 

WB2IKJ, K1MAN and VK2BVS... birds of a feather.

WAKE UP WORLD!!!!

 

Just this past year I was given the opportunity to share amateur radio w/ my 8th grade class. We covered the basics, mainly 2-meter, and several took interest. Unfortunately, as many were becoming interested, once they heard that there was a test involved in getting a license, the slackers said no-way and went back to their CB's . But don't worry, there were still a good many who told me they were willing to work for one! (when i taught, i made sure to give them the benefits vs. CB so they actually knew they were working for something much better and more exciting)

73,
KG4WRA
Mike

 

Can 3rd graders really appreciate or even understand radio?  Or are these "Ham Radio Classes" just a feel good exercise for the hams doing the instruction.  I hate to be critical but, I really don't think kids this young can grasp the meaning of amateur radio.  If they can then it is a great program and I encourage others to do it.

And as for the gang of 3, K1MAN, VK2BVS and WB2JKJ, I'm starting to think this is the start of a religious cult using ham radio as the draw.  In the past I had considered sending used amateur equipment to WB2JKJ's group.  Now that I see there is a connection to K1MAN and his group as stated by others here, I will no longer consider this because of the publicity and controversy surrounding K1MAN and his organization. Until that is settled, I will wait and see.

K2WH

 

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K2WH @ June 06 2003,12:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Can 3rd graders really appreciate or even understand radio?  Or are these "Ham Radio Classes" just a feel good exercise for the hams doing the instruction.  I hate to be critical but, I really don't think kids this young can grasp the meaning of amateur radio.  [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I want to make it clear that I am NOT trying to put you down with what I am about to write.  I want to make a point.

Your comment fits in with the attitude I have seen from other "older" or even "elderly" HAMs who think of HAM Radio as more of a religion than as a  hobby to be enjoyed, and a valuable national resource during emergencies.  

"I really don't think kids this young can grasp the meaning of amateur radio."  That almost makes it sound like there is some mystical aspect to it.  "The meaning of amateur radio".  What is it, anyway?

I don't think you are giving 3rd grade students [8 years old] enough credit.  

Sure, I doubt most of them will understand the fine details of SWR, sporadic E, or even PSK-31 in a class lasting only a couple of hours, but they are easily able to understand what HAM Radio is and what it can do.

Show them how you can take a radio, battery, and antenna and talk to someone across the country - or across the world - and they will understand what it is capable of, and that it can be FUN.  

It can give you a chance to introduce the atmosphere to them when you talk about how radio waves bounce off of it, are absorbed by it, or go right through it.  It can lead into discussions of weather, and to the fact that sun radiates more than just light.  Has anyone ever seen an aurora?  

Show them CW.  Children like codes.  For those that don't, show them a TNC and how it can do the hard part for them.  

Most of them know how to use a PC to send E-Mail, show them how it can be done if there is no easy way to access the Internet because you are away from a phone line or because the phones don't work.    

If we take the attitude that "they are too young to understand" and don't share this great hobby we enjoy, then the pool of new HAM's will keep getting smaller and smaller - until there are not enough of us to justify the allocated radio frequency spectrum.

 

You may be surprised at this, but I agree with what you are saying. I don't understand children at all. I should say, that I do not and never will have any.

My comment about them not understanding amateur radio stems from the fact that I mistakenly thought, 3rd grade meant 3 year old kids. It didn't occur to me they were older. Sorry about that. Duh.

K2WH

 

3 yrs old in third grade??
Does that mean you graduate at the age of 12??

Just kidding guys dont be offended.

 

I am definitly in favor of ham radio in schools. I don't have any feeling about how young to start the kids, but it should certainly be an option in junior, middle and high school as at a minimum one of the extracurricular activities.
I know that had there been a ham radio club and station at my schools during those years I would have been licensed twenty years sooner. The biggest problem for me was learning the code properly and with the board of education and our ham community helping, this and other hurdles to become a ham can be easily confronted.
If the schools around here start a ham club I will most surely devote some of my time to elmer the kids. I have already given time to an electronics project club for the 4H and had 2 of my kids get their tickets so I know that that is all it really takes to get the kid going.

73 es gud dx,
George(KE3MD)

 

If it weren't for ham radio is school, I probably wouldn't be involved now.  Over 25 years ago when I was in Jr. High, one of the teachers taught a novice class and I got my first ticket.  After getting my license, local hams loaned me some gear to get on 40 meters and I had a blast.  I am forever thankful to those who cared enough to teach the classes after school and introduce me to one of the greatest hobbies on Earth.

Marco, W7WIK