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Introduction To Workshops With "Fire Breathing Robots..."
This is an Introduction to my Teacher Professional Development Activities & Workshops. It's a mix of some specific, self contained Professional Development materials I have created. These workshops and PD units that will help you learn about my class. As a "Teacher", be able to replicate this in your class room.
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Web Site: WWW.STEAMCLOWN.ORG | Contact: TopClown@STEAMClown.org | LinkedIn: Jim Burnham | TikTok: STEAM Clown
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WORK IN PROGRESS
WORK IN PROGRESS
- Unit: Professional Development
- Module: Workshops - Trying Something New
- This is a LEARNING : Lesson / Lab
- Last Revised: Feb. 14, 2026 - Authored: Dec. 28, 2020
- Original Author: Jim Burnham - TopClown@STEAMClown.org
- Content License: Distributed as Open Source. See Rights & Usage
Note: TEACHERS!!!! If you are going to use any of these lessons or labs, please let me know. I would really like to understand how you are using this material. I want to know what works, what does not work, what would you like me to add, and how I can make it better. If you changed something, let me know, because it's probably a good idea and you should share it with me, so I can add it and share with everyone else.
This Module or lesson is how I teach in my class. Many of the lessons might be specific to my class, but you could probably adjust them for your class. I'll try to make them a neutral as I can, so they can be used in any Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or any other Engineering / Technology class. Let me know how I can make that better. I'll try to keep this unit current and relevant. Please let me know if any resource links are broken or not accessible.
Send me email at TopClown@STEAMClown.org You can also Join the STEAM Clown's Mailing List. If you want to Unsubscribe, click my Unsubscribe From Mailing List link
Learning Objective:
Learning Objective:
Module Scope:
- Introduction to lots of Engineering topics
- Description of best practices for learning to code, do electronics and build Fire Breathing Robots
- Introduction to Professional, Career Skills, and Tips and Tricks to be a better future technical professional.
- Get you started on your journey as a Life Long Learner
- Understand were to find resources to grow your skill as an Engineering professional.
Prior Knowledge:
- Basic understanding of how to a computer
- Good skills finding answers and resources on the internet
- You be you. Come as you are, Start where you are at…
- PC, Laptop or Other device to access the Engineering applications
- Each Unit, Workshop, Lesson or Lab will have specific items needed to complete the tasks
Sponsor Shout Out
Sponsor Shout Out
I would like to thank <Your Company or Organization Here> for their generous support of my classroom and curriculum development. <Your Company or Organization Here> has <Your value proposition, call to action, & related content and message>
(If you would like to sponsor this, or other Modules or presentation, please contact TopClown@STEAMClown.org or check out my "How To Help Page"
If you would like to sponsor other Curriculum Development, check out my "How To Help Page" or contact TopClown@STEAMClown.org
Prerequisites:
Prerequisites:
No explicit prerequisite course work or coding knowledge is required, but students are expected to have a good understanding of basic computer applications, tools & principles. Students will need to be self-sufficient with finding answers one the internet. You be you. Come as you are, Start where you are at…
Caution & Safety Considerations:
Caution & Safety Considerations:
Primer: "Aaron, I can imagine no way in which this thing could be considered anywhere remotely close to safe. All I know is I spent six hours in there and I'm still alive... You still want to do it?"
As with any activity, please make sure you are using appropriate safety equipment. If you are coding, writing, reading, or working a lab, make sure you stand up and stretch every hour or so, Please consider any safety issues connecting to a Raspberry Pi, Arduino, computers and other electronic equipment.
Workshop Topics, Lessons & Labs
Workshop Topics, Lessons & Labs
Integrate Arduino's, Sensors & Coding into any class (Have Fun Building Rube Goldberg Kinetic Machines & Teaching lot's of other sensor/data based Science)
Integrate Arduino's, Sensors & Coding into any class (Have Fun Building Rube Goldberg Kinetic Machines & Teaching lot's of other sensor/data based Science)
This Workshop Series "Limitless: CS in any Classroom" was hosted by the Santa Clara County Office of Education, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Tech Interactive, and the Krause Center for Innovation
"Arduinos: More Than Teaching Code" - 📰 Slide Presentation
"Arduinos: More Than Teaching Code" - 📽️ Video - Screen Recording (47 min)
C++ / Arduino Lessons/Presentations - ✨ Resources / 🛠️ LAB Activity (work in progress)
Connect with me. If you have questions, I'm happy to do a video call. I'm building a canvas class too, let me know if that's interesting to you. connect with me: TopClown@STEAMClown.org
June 2022
June 2022
California Educators Together
Have Fun Building Rube Goldberg Kinetic Machines!!!!!
This a four lesson module where you will learn how to run and teach a set of lessons incorporating a Micro-Controller (typically an Arduino), Sensors, and Motors to build a Kinetic Machine. Students will learn Design Thinking, Engineering, Electronics and Coding.
Students will learn about who Rube Goldberg was and what Kinetic Machines are. Students will learn about Sensors and Motors and how to integrate inputs and outputs with a Micro Controller. They will also build an overly complicated Kinetic Machine that will connect to each of the other student teams.
June 25, 2021
June 25, 2021
This module, while focused on your LinkedIn profile, is more about understanding:
How we are perceived
How to continually be aware of how we present ourselves
Crucial first meeting
First introduction
First connection
June 2021 - I do teach some professional development Networking Modules as part of my Mechatronics Engineering class. This is a condensed version of the my LinkedIn "First Impressions & Networking"... I'm actually not too Goofy.
"LinkedIn "First Impressions" & Networking" - 📽️ Video - Podcast
"LinkedIn "First Impressions" & Networking" - 📰 Slide Presentation
We tend to evaluate each other quickly. It may be part of our "lizard" brain, where as we encounter something or someone new, we need to evaluate them as a friend or foe rather fast.
These first impressions are influenced by a number of factors... We judge and are judged by our facial features, body type, how attractive or intelligent we are perceived to be... even our voice, and how we sound is in that first impression calculation.
We tend to have a hard time overcoming our initial perceptions and impressions. Even when we are presented with new data and new information, it's hard to change that sticky first impression.
We get one chance, so let's figure out how to do it right. This workshop/Lesson focuses on:
Your LinkedIn Profile picture
Your Headline
Your background
Your About Story
Reference, Attribution & Resources:
Reference, Attribution & Resources:
License - "Be A Hero"... Distribute Your Content As Open Source... That Is What I'm Doing...
License - "Be A Hero"... Distribute Your Content As Open Source... That Is What I'm Doing...
The content on this site may have been pulled from other open source sites, but typically the interpretation and presentation is primarily the Intellectual Property of Jim Burnham, - TopClown@STEAMClown.org at www.steamclown.org and the Student curriculum can be found under the specific Mechatronics Engineering Units section of this web site.
If you do use my material, and make changes, I would appreciate getting a copy... because if you are making changes, it means that you think there is a better way to teach this… and I would really appreciate understanding that. Please send me feedback on my Questions or Feedback form. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions or comment.
You also should keep and include my STEAM Clown Logo and Copyright in any derivative works you create. I would appreciate if you would include one of these images found on my Steam Clown License page and link it to www.steamclown.org
If you do use my material, and make changes, I would appreciate getting a copy... because if you are making changes, it means that you think there is a better way to teach this… and I would really appreciate understanding that. Please send me feedback on my Questions or Feedback form. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions or comment.
You also should keep and include my STEAM Clown Logo and Copyright in any derivative works you create. I would appreciate if you would include one of these images found on my Steam Clown License page and link it to www.steamclown.org
Teachers - Unit, Module and Lesson Plans
Teachers - Unit, Module and Lesson Plans
If you are a teacher and want to connect and teach this Lesson or Module, discuss how I teach it, give me feedback, please contact me at TopClown@STEAMClown.org
To access this Lesson Plan and the Teacher collaboration area, you will have needed to connect with me so I can Share the content with you. Please go to the Teachers & Partner Page, check out my Licensing and fill out my Collaboration and Curriculum Request Form. I'll review and then grant you access to the requested areas and lesson plans if they exist.
If you have questions or feedback on how I can make a presentation, lesson, lab better please give use my Feedback Form.
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