Is Pretty Tech for me?
Yes – if you are looking for a challenging and stimulating hands-on activity.
If you are a teacher, youth worker, or you work in a museum or science center, then you can run your own Pretty Tech workshop.
If you enjoy building electronic projects as a hobby, then you can order by mail our range of Pretty Tech Tinker Kits.
People will not be interested, it is too hard
People are naturally curious about the world around them. People like to get their hands-on technology and enjoy making things.
Hands-on is the best way to learn and enjoy.
What will people get out of Pretty Tech?
First and foremost, it is fun and rewarding to make something with one’s hands.
Secondly it demystifies electronics. Electronics is a part of all our lives and is becoming more so – we are surrounded by smart phones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles. It is important to understand new technology to some extent and not to be intimidated. Pretty Tech helps to overcome people’s technophobia. Electronic machines become fewer black boxes, just larger (and more complicated) examples of things already familiar.
Pretty Tech can spark an interest in electronics which can open new educational directions for individuals. We believe this is helping, in its small way, to address the problem of encouraging more women into the electronics and engineering professions. Pretty Tech can supply follow-up educational material to those interested.
It sounds too difficult and dangerous
Anyone who is practical and organized can run a Pretty Tech workshop.
The prospect of helping people to build and fix their kits may seem daunting, but a bit of logic and common sense will overcome most problems.
There is a risk involved in people using soldering irons. However, if common-sense safety procedures are followed the likelihood of anybody injuring themselves is very small.
How does Pretty Tech fit into the school curriculum?
In Scotland, the workshop complements the following attainment targets in the Environmental Studies 5 – 14 National Guidelines.
Science: Energy and Forces, Level C
- construct simple battery-operated circuits, identifying the main components
- classify materials as electrical conductors or insulators and describe how these are related to the safe use of electricity
- describe the energy conversions in the components of an electrical circuit
Skills in Technology: Designing and Making, Level C
- use given resources and processes to carry out a task safely
In England, the workshop complements the following attainment targets in The National Curriculum.
Sc4 Physical Processes: Electricity, KS1 & KS2
- about everyday appliances that use electricity
- about simple series circuits involving batteries, wires, bulbs and other components
- to construct circuits, incorporating a battery or power supply and a range of switches, to make electrical devices work
Sc3 Materials and their Properties: Grouping and classifying materials, KS1
- that some materials are better electrical conductors than others
What ages and abilities are Pretty Tech for?
Pretty Tech is for everyone – male, female, young, old – from the age of about 6 upwards. It appeals to all ages, and equally to both sexes.
Pretty Tech is for adults and children of all abilities (including special-needs children). It is our experience that just about everybody can build a Pretty Tech kit.
What do I need to run a workshop?
You need some helpers:
- Helpers should be good with people, patient, and practical but not necessarily with a technical background.
- A mix of male and female helpers is desirable.
You need a venue for the workshop:
- It should be well lit and ventilated. Daylight, though not direct sunlight, is preferable.
- You need sturdy, stable, and clean work surfaces for kit construction, with sturdy and stable chairs or stools.
You need a soldering station for each participant with the following equipment:
- soldering iron (low-voltage soldering irons and silicone rubber cables are recommended)
- soldering iron stand
- safety goggles
Note: A circuit breaker must be connected between the mains electricity supply and all electrical equipment.
You also need some communal equipment:
- reels of solder
- wire cutters and wire strippers
- solder suckers
How do I book Pretty Tech?
We’re in Dallas, TX. Send us an email at prettytechhub@gmail.com
