10/18/2024

The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology[1] wrapped up up its final cohort for 2024. Eight educators from across the country gathered at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, last week to learn how to incorporate radio technology into their lessons. Eighty-five educators have gotten hands-on with radio technology through the program in 2024.

On Thursday, October 10, as Hurricane Milton's remnants continued to roar across Florida, the group decoded GOES satellite images of the storm. As the decoded signals were converted to images, there were exclamations of amazement in the conference room that serves as the training center. "Wow!" said several teachers, almost in unison.

Lisa Werner, KE8BMR, of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, earned her Technician Class license during the week at TI. Experiences like the weather satellite decode opened her eyes to the broad possibilities of amateur radio. "I learned all the different things that can be done in ham radio. I thought it was just talking on the radio before coming to TI," she said.

Radio is central to TI, but the goal isn't just to create more hams. "It really is about getting radio and radio technology back into the front of mind for students," said ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA.

By incorporating radio into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lessons, the importance of radio communications in all aspects of modern and future life is demonstrated for the generation that could take humans to Mars and beyond.

"We're excited for the future, and especially for the future of the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology," said Goodgame. "2025 will be a strong year of growth for the program. We've continued to improve on our strong foundation and groups like this cohort give us a lot of energy to look forward."

The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is funded entirely by donations to the ARRL Education & Technology Fund[2]. In the last three years, 175 educators have attended TI. There are 7 cohorts of the program in 2024, and the goal is to scale it to 16 for 2025, including taking the institute "on the road" to different cities around the country.


[1] http://www.arrl.org/ti
[2] http://www.arrl.org/givetostem

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� Synchronet � Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS

12/13/2024

The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI) continues to grow. Fresh off a highly successful YouTube telethon[1] that raised more than $41,000 for the program, some of next year's dates have been announced. Applications are now open.

The program is growing, and educators will have the opportunity to attend sessions around the country. "We love having the teachers here at ARRL Headquarters, but we wanted to bring this program nationwide," said ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA. Dates and details of the regional sessions are still being determined, but the hope is to touch many areas of the United States.

The application process is straightforward. Interested educators can find the web form at www.arrl.org/ti[2]. ARRL covers all the costs of the TI, including travel, but there is a $100 application fee if the teacher is accepted.

The success generated from the program is demonstrable. "The teachers leave TI with energy and knowledge. They've taken that and built tremendous programs in their schools," said Goodgame. The program isn't necessarily designed to get young people licensed, but rather to get them thinking about radio in their other areas of study. Teachers work amateur radio and radio technology into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics lessons. Amateur radio is presented as a pathway to get hands-on with the concepts, and to use them in the real world.

There are 16 cohorts planned for the 2025 ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. "The growth we're seeing in TI is a result of the teachers' experiences with the program, and the donors who enable it," said Goodgame. The TI is funded entirely by donations to the ARRL Education & Technology Fund[3].


[1] https://www.arrl.org/news/41-000-raised-by-donors-youtubers-for-arrl-teachers-institute
[2] http://www.arrl.org/ti
[3] https://home.arrl.org/action/Donate/Education-Technology-Fund

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� Synchronet � Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS