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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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+ 1 for the Pittsburgh Children's museum version.  Little bits are very cool, but quite expensive not exhibition floor toughened.  The Tinkering Studio at Exploratorium also has been playing with homemade circuit blocks.

The original poster said:  "Our ultimate goal is to give students a chance to design
> 
> their own unique circuits given a set of given materials or objects."

That's pretty omnibus.  It would be good to get a more detailed sense of what you are trying to get done, and in what setting.  Are you talking exhibition floor, workshops, do you need inputs like light/sound/pressure/motion detectors?  What ages?  The simpler, less expensive, and more robust they are, the better they will work for the museum setting.  But generally these are simple circuits that allow you to turn things off and on based on mechanical switching.  The more complex and flexible set's like Littlebits will allow more leeway for experimentation, but are fussier and more expensive.

eric siegel


On Aug 29, 2012, at 9:41 AM, kevin goodwin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> At the Children's Museum we have "circuit blocks" that we have made ourselves.  Visitors have even contributed to our collection.  We keep them pretty simple looking so that visitors and educators can recreate them at home.  Typically, we get most of our pieces and parts from "take-apart" items that are donated to the Museum.
> I can post a couple blog posts that demonstrate exactly what they look like.
> -Kevin Goodwin
> Children's Museum of PittsburghMAKESHOP Teaching Artist
> --- On Wed, 8/29/12, Dana and Kathy Dawes <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> From: Dana and Kathy Dawes <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Circuit Kits for Elementary Labs
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 1:17 AM
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> We have just found a new product online called "littleBits". Here is the
> link: http://littlebits.cc/
> 
> We haven't tried them yet, but they look fascinating. The developer of these
> did a TED talk (Ayah Bdeir: Building blocks that blink, beep and teach) that
> will give you more information about how they can be used.
> 
> Kathy Dawes
> Educational Outreach Coordinator
> Palouse Discovery Science Center
> Pullman, WA
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Heather Norton
> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 2:28 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Circuit Kits for Elementary Labs
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> ****************************************************************************
> *
> 
> Has anyone found a really good circuit kit that is good for elementary
> students but also survives the daily use of field trips?  We have been
> looking at Snap Circuits and other plastic kits but don't think they
> will stand up.  Our ultimate goal is to give students a chance to design
> their own unique circuits given a set of given materials or objects.
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> 
> 
> Heather Norton
> 
> Senior Director of Education
> 
> Orlando Science Center
> 
> 407.514.2097
> 
> 407.514.2067
> 
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
> 
> 
> 
> Inspire Science Learning for Life
> 
> 
> 
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