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What Micro-Controller Would You Use to Teach With?
Rukie asks: "I'm looking into starting some sort of robotics class for my high school, which severely lacks any sort of technological classes. I am now wondering what micro-controllers are best for an educational environment. I definitely want something more advanced than the Legos, but something that won't fly over people's heads. Are there cheap, scaleable micro-controllers for learning in a classroom or at home? I'm curious how my fellow readers have hacked up toys to make their own robotics at minimal cost."
Good luck with that.
If you dont use something simple like Legos and their language, it'll go over all their heads. Most of these kids you'll teach probably wont have a mastery of algebra, let alone have the mental concept of complex systems like robotics. There's always a few that do, but they'd benefit from an extracurricular group after school.
You'd be best teaching how a computer works (from ground up), how circuits work, basic circuit theory, and basic radio theory.
Building computers from junk parts, and installing Linux would teach them a lot.
Understanding how to use a 555 timer with other basic inputs would teach them how to control input to output, along with basic principles of common "parts".
Radio theory could teach that all signals are EM, and given proper parts, we can listen and create them. Show how to build a crystal am radio and then turn it into a transmitter. Apply to current theory.