StemTronics aim to promote and streamline the teaching and uptake of practical electronics technology in Zambian Schools



Electronics and Computing can be seen as the "glue" sciences that stick all scientific disciplines of the 21St century together. Computing(and the electronics that underpin it) is found in every piece of equipment and technology and machinery used for modern-day research, engineering and manufacturing. It thus makes a lot of sense to expose our learners to ICT and Electronics at an early age and in a much more intensive manner. 

The Zambian Ministry of Education has rolled out a pilot curriculum for STEM education in select Secondary Schools some years ago and although the effort should be lauded, the initiative had little impact so far because of the following reasons:
  • Teachers not adequately prepared to assist with research/engineering projects for learners and most teachers do not have sufficient cross-curriculum experience to make links between subject fields and how technologies can be applied across various scientific disciplines. 
  • Schools do not have adequate equipment, spare parts and even a dedicated classroom where learners can conduct their research and engineering projects
The map below shows how complex the new technological landscape is and some relationships (cross-cutting) between subject areas with relative importance of new technologies  which are ubiquitous in our world


 (Send an email to rourkelex@gmail.com if you want a large size copy of this image) 

The diagram depicts the subject areas with pervasive electronics technology(Bottom left, and coloured blocks more important) and the application of electronics technology in the world (Top left) On the right hand side is the building blocks needed - what learners (and teachers!) should be taught to make sense of the world on the left. 

The learning needed will span years of effort, but any small effort will help to expose our learners to this new world and to sow the seeds of research, engineering and innovation



Boombox made (innovated!) from electronics scrap



STEMTronics has designed a methodology which can be implemented in ANY secondary school to give learners life-changing exposure to practical electronics and the application of computing and electronics in modern society. 
The methodology, underpinned by a thorough understanding of the challenges which most schools face , is aimed at delivering the most effective learning at the best possible price - in other words budget-friendly effectiveness!!!

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