To them, adulthood is to be unrestricted access to their social
network through a device they control, rather than with ongoing
permission and oversight by a parent.

Get a modern cheap android tablet or phone, and take it apart for them
(via projected camera if possible), showing them the components.
Explain systems concepts; modular engineering.  Explain which things
break and why; ESD, impact, age.  Take questions.

Show them something you've assembled, and explain it as a system.

Differentiate between mass production electronics (the phone) and your
own assemblies, and how you'd do it differently and more cheaply if
you had to do a hundred times the quantity.

I've done something like this and had great response, running out of
time with the questions.

Kids often don't get to meet people who can _make stuff happen_.

On Thu, Feb 05, 2015 at 06:28:36PM -0700, Denny Esterline wrote:
> So I think this falls under "everything engineering" feel free to flog me
> with a wet noodle if you disagree.
>=20
> So I've been invited to speak at my sons career day... So I get about
> fifteen minutes to wow about 30 six year olds.
>=20
> Now, I know we're the type of people that can get excited discussing the
> arcane details of processor instruction sets. Somehow I can't see a room =
of
> six year old sharing my enthusiasm. :-)
> I'd rather not revert to a Jacobs ladder to get their attention, but I wi=
ll
> if I have to.
> I have about a month to prepare, minimal budget and an "above average" ju=
nk
> box.
>=20
> Thoughts?
>=20
> -Denny
> --=20
> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist

--=20
James Cameron
http://quozl.linux.org.au/
--=20
http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.