Toying With TechnologySM
Creating a positive learning environment where youth experience science, engineering, and technology through hands on experimentation.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Charles Wright, our mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed by all.
About TWT
The program "Toying With Technology" is designed to explain the principles behind many of the technological innovations in wide use today which is accomplished through hands-on laboratory experiences based upon simple systems constructed out of LEGOs® and controlled by small microcomputers. The laboratory experiences lead people, literally by their hands-on experimentation, through the use of technology that supports many everyday activities. The lab experiences are simple enough to isolate and illuminate the underlying basic principles of technology and yet complex enough to represent real-world examples.
We live in a
world of electronic and electromechanical gadgetry, much of which is a complete
mystery to the average, non-technical person. Garage door openers, TV remote
controllers, microwave ovens, automobile cruise controllers, and cellular phones
are but a few such items in wide use today. As complex as these gadgets seem on
the surface, much of the mystery behind their functionality can be explained in
simple terms well within the grasp of the average, non-technical person. The intent
of the course is to introduce students to recent advances
in electronic technology in a gentle, non-threatening manner. Laboratory
experiences typically involve the design and construction (out of LEGOs®)
of simple models of real-world systems, including an elevator and its
controller, a garage door and its opener, a computer - controlled car, and a
house security system.
History
The Toying With Technology program at Iowa State University was initiated during the 1996-97 academic year through a Miller Fellowship awarded to Dr. Larry Genalo (MSE) and Dr. Charles Wright (ECprE – deceased). The main idea driving this course was to offer a technology literacy class aimed at students, particularly education majors, who are in non-technical fields but want an appreciation for the technological innovations that surround them. This course was created to introduce students to aspects of science, engineering, and technology. It does so through a collection of hands-on laboratory experiences based upon simple systems constructed out of LEGOs® and controlled by small microcomputers. These laboratory experiences are designed to lead students, literally by their hands-on experimentation, through the use of technology in support of many everyday activities. These lab experiences are simple enough to isolate and illuminate the underlying basic principles and yet complex enough to represent real-world examples.
The Toying With Technology program has expanded considerably to include not only courses for education students but also workshops for K-12 students and teachers. These workshops which are one to two hours in length, are given to groups visiting campus and are also presented at K-12 schools around the state. Consequently, participation in Toying With Technology activities has increased dramatically. Enrollment in the technology literacy course has more than doubled, on-campus workshops have increased to one per week, and numerous off-campus workshops are conducted during the summer as well as the academic year. This growth is expected to continue as the program gains visibility. In addition, a graduate level two-credit course is being offered in the summer. An important feature of the Toying With Technology Program is its heavy reliance on students in designing and conducting workshops.
Outreach Total (Fall
1996 - Spring 2007): 16,339
Number of Students that have Taken the TWT Course (Fall 1996 - Spring
2007): 527
Number of Graduate Students that have Taken the TWT Course (Summer
2000 - Summer 2007): 95
Last Update: 06-08-2007
Hits Since August 28, 2001