Electronic Circuits in Makerspaces

Why Electronic Circuits?

Electronic circuits are an important resource for makerspaces to have available because the utility of them can be applied to many other maker space projects. Electronic circuits can accompany a variety of makerspace projects like 3D printing, lazer cutters, and fabric. Electronic circuits allow kids to add functionality to their projects like lights, alarms, or even motors to make them come to life.


Getting Started

To Start learning about circuits, an easy tool to use is kits like Snap Circuits or Little Bits to make the learning process easier and more streamlined without the complication of jumbled wires, loose connections, or frustrating materials. These kits can also be used to test ideas quickly with little set up and endless possibilities.

To learn more about snap circuits visit their website at http://www.snapcircuits.net/. They have a variety of kits and are a great starting point for learning circuits.

Once kids have mastered the basics of circuits, they can move onto creating circuits with wires, copper tape, LEDs, buzzers, motors, and more! This is where kids can explore the possibilities of working with circuits, and they can start thinking of where they want to apply their newfound knowledge.

Here are a couple of project options that kids can participate in, but remember be creative!

Paper circuits:

Paper Circuits are an easy way to incorporate simple circuits onto physical projects like greeting cards, invitations, or decorations. All you need is LEDs, paper, copper tape, and a battery.

To make a paper circuit, simply use copper tape to connect lights or buzzers to a battery. Either make you own designs or get templates at https://www.makerspaces.com/paper-circuits-book/

Electronic Clothing

To take simple circuits to another level, try attaching them to your clothes! Make light up arm bands, gloves, or shirts. Incorporating circuits into clothing allows kids to show off their circuitry expertise to everyone they see.

Electronic clothing can be created by putting wires in between layers of fabric which can be sewn together or even just glued connecting to a battery in a pocket or empty space. Decorative fabric can also be added to give the project some flare!

3D Printing

Kids can even incorporate circuits into 3D printing projects to make them come alive. Adding motors and lights to their creations makes them even better than before and can open up many possibilities to what is achievable in a makerspace. Kids can make moving vehicles like drones or cars.

3D printed projects are a bit more complicated than other projects, but are still a great project for those who are interested in both printing and circuitry. When printing the project, add empty space to run wires through it, and a breadboard would be useful to organize wires. To add even more complexity, the circuits can connect with a Raspberry Pi or Arduino to add coding into the project.

Finally...

There are so many ways electronic circuits can be applied to any other project in a makerspace that make them an important addition to any collection of materials. They are a great way for kids to expand their projects to new levels and lets them get more invested in what they make. Because simple circuits require few materials in exchange for infinite possibilities, they are perfect for makerspaces, where kids can let their imagination run free!