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EasyTron Basic Electronics Course Review by Stephanie D. Scarborough

EasyTron Educational Products
P.O. Box 217
Lakewood, CA 90714-0217
(888) 621-3317
www.easytron.net
http://www.scikits.com/

EasyTron is a basic electronics course designed for high school students. This kit takes the student through concepts of basic electronics through lab exercises and detailed explanations with diagrams. Moreover, the tests are knowledge based and linked to the hands-on lab experiments.

Upon accepting the EasyTron review, I knew I would enlist my husband as he generally teaches science in our home. As my husband opened up the box, I heard, "this is awesome." As he sorted through all the electronic "toys", he began to rattle - off all the things they would make...and this is before he opened the manual.

As with all topics I'm afraid to teach, learning the language is half the battle. The book explains terms like protons, conductors, rheostats, and many others. Best of all, I grasped what they were saying and was ready to "play" myself.

Each "Lab" (total of 60 in this course) has an engaging title, stated purpose, lab instructions, circuit descriptions, and high-level questions for the student. It also includes figures, graphics, schematics, and a parts list for each of the hands-on activities. Most importantly, the kit comes complete with every part you need for the labs, which at our house might mean the difference between doing an experiment or not.

The developer of EasyTron, George Outler, considered the needs of students by allowing their learning to progress as they progress from one experience to the next. Moreover, the experimentation employs multiple senses of sight, sound, touch, and dexterity. I agree that this system works because hands-on learning is successful and most often retained by the learner.



-- Product Review by Stephanie D. Scarborough, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March, 2006

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