Organization of the Electronics and Robotics Club in Moscow

I would like to talk about my experience in organizing an electronics club in an ordinary Moscow comprehensive school. This, maybe, doesn’t correspond to the Habr’s theme, but first of all, posts on education (higher, advanced, abroad, interactive, etc.) appear here quite often, which means they are interesting to many. And, secondly, today's students who are interested in IT, electronics and robotics are, in fact, tomorrow’s Habr audience, aren't they?
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Motives

So the circumstances flashed (c) that about 1.5 years ago I had a lot of free time, and I would like to use it somehow fruitfully. I thought that we should do self-development: long ago, I wanted to finally learn FPGA, for example, or get some kind of certificate, or implement some of my small embed projects (I enrolled in the MIT 6.002x course at edx.org and even in December successfully completed it). But quite a long time ago, the thought settled in my head that all this is actually devoid of any global meaning and the final goal is unclear. Except, of course, getting paid and enjoying the process itself. Have you ever thought about this? What will happen after you develop and write some cool game engine, or another site for a large customer, even if it’s very fast and convenient, or do you program another controller in some production, assembled on the last fastest MCU with a bunch of peripherals and kilometers of wires? What will remain after many years of all this in the dry residue? In general, after all this gloomy philosophy, I thought that there should be something other than this and that we should do something else. I remembered that I had a radio club at school. He did not exist for long, and there was no system in the classes. The teacher then did not know what we can be taught. However, I still liked going there, in electronics there was some inexplicable appeal, mystery and real magic! It turns out that the radio mug has long ceased to exist, no school crafts have been preserved, and there are still positive emotions. Generally, I decided to try to organize something similar on my own. For the guys it will be interesting and (hopefully) useful, for me - a completely new experience, which is also useful. In addition, when you try to explain something to others, you yourself begin to understand what is at stake.

Last year’s story, or the first pancake

Last summer, I began to think about where I could organize all this. There were only 3 options: on the basis of some educational institution; in the orphanage of creativity (such, oddly enough, there are still in Moscow and feel great); rent a suitable room yourself. The latter option, of course, is extremely undesirable, because in addition to the rental fee itself, it will be necessary to draw up an incredible number of pieces of paper, certificates and permits from all the inspection bodies: firefighters, sanitary and epidemiological surveillance, communal services, someone else will apply ... Yes, and money for rent all the same, no (classes should definitely be free), not to mention money for inquiries. The option with the house of creativity was also not the best. The closest to me (on Ryazan Avenue, near the Gorod Shopping Center) was still too far away, so that you can quickly get there after work, and not far from the metro. Although I still went there, but I did not find anyone from the administration (in the summer, of course, there was nobody there). Educational institutions remain: they usually have everything in order with the premises, with inspection bodies and, in fact, with children.

He opened the map and began to look at what was in the vicinity of my work and home. Relatively close to work, I found an orphanage (by the way, I was surprised how many orphanages for mentally retarded children, as well as correctional ones). I chose an orphanage, not a school, because then it seemed to me that they, in theory, should have been helped as far as possible. I went to their website, found the mail and sent an electric letter with an offer to conduct classes. A few days passed, and in return nothing at all. Okay, probably people are not up to it, or maybe there’s just nobody to read e-mail there. After work, I called, but it turned out to communicate only with the security guard, the administration does not stop at work. A few days later, before work, I went there myself. This time, even the guard was not at the post, and, having walked along the first floor, I waited for him for 10 minutes. When he nevertheless appeared and called the deputy for academic work, I went up to the second floor and began to wait again in the corridor. Another 20 minutes, the guys just returned from school, everyone goes back and forth, but no one comes to me. After half an hour, finally met with an employee of children. at home, went into her office and I told who I am, who I work with, what I want and what I propose to organize. She seemed to be interested and escorted me to the senior group. As far as I understand, there are guys from 13 to 18 years old. Also there was their teacher. But there were only three guys in place: one somewhere around 13 years old, the second about 15 years old and the oldest 18 years old. The older one was invited to listen to me on purpose; he especially did not want to. And the average one played on the computer in FIFA without stopping. I sat down and for 15-20 minutes briefly talked about what classes I propose to organize: about crawling and flying robots, programming, microcontrollers, participation in competitions, making gifts for the New Year and birthdays, about drawing printed circuit boards, soldering irons, Arduino and so on. Naturally, all this in such a way that the unprepared at least something understands: on the example of cell phones, cars, TV, New Year's garlands and the same computer. It seems to me that quite a few guys who are interested in technology already at this age understand what is at stake, albeit very remotely. I was almost sure that such classes would interest them. for example, cell phones, cars, TVs, Christmas lights and the same computer. It seems to me that quite a few guys who are interested in technology already at this age understand what is at stake, albeit very remotely. I was almost sure that such classes would interest them. for example, cell phones, cars, TVs, Christmas lights and the same computer. It seems to me that quite a few guys who are interested in technology already at this age understand what is at stake, albeit very remotely. I was almost sure that such classes would interest them.
However, nothing of the kind! A guy who was 15 was distracted from the computer and asked if I could teach them how to trade on the Forex online exchange. He said that he already has a certain amount of money in his account and it would be great to increase it. To this I replied that radio is not an economy, and in general such exchanges only make money, and to make money you need to know the economy, mathematics, statistics well, but in any case this is not what you are supposed to do. But we can learn to program, and programming can help him in this area too! But the guy just got upset and returned to FIFA. I decided to talk to the oldest about his studies. I learned that he is studying at a railway college and that all these blinkers and whistles are like a flashlight. Maybe I think they just teach in college is already full of any electronics with TAU taught? Maybe automation, or communication, or telemetry - there are a lot of such things on the railway. Nothing of the kind - he just learns to be a train driver! (may the engine drivers forgive me for such a tone) Well, I began to talk about how interesting it is to develop something for the same railway, deal with some control system, dig into the communication, etc. And in general on the railway a huge scope for automation! But no, the guy said that even so, in general, he can’t see everything that he needs and doesn’t see any special advantages for himself. To be honest, I was slightly not ready for such a turn. I still said that I’ll call in a couple of days and if the guys decide to try, then we will organize a group. I already had to run to work (almost lunch), I said goodbye and left. And two days later he called and the teacher said: “You understand, our guys are spoiled with all sorts of circles. It seems that by the evening they had already forgotten that you were coming. In addition, the oldest is about to get married and he is not up to you. “Let’s you come and try again to talk, but with other children?”

The conclusions are as follows:
1. One gets the impression that no one except myself needs this for nothing. Neither the head nor the teacher even asked for my phone number (although, of course, I left all my contacts in the first letter). I myself left my business card at the exit. Of course, there can be no questions for the children, yet they are children and still do not understand what's what and what they really need. But at age 18, you can somehow think about your future. Although it may well be that I was not interested in telling everything and could not interest them.
2. The situation in children. the house does not make the impression that they are short of money. A normally renovated building, good large TVs in all rooms, many guys have better phones than mine, computers, normal monitors, desks and so on. But it is not clear what will happen to them when they leave here at the age of 18. In my opinion, no one thinks about how they will provide for themselves after graduation.
So last year I lost all desire to continue to do this.

Attempt number two

Time passed, and in the winter I began to think about this idea again. By that time, I had already read everything I could find on the Internet about the organization of radio circles and even found some special books from Soviet times. He got some useful information on RadioKot, and also talked with two people who are just conducting such classes (hello Vadim and YS). The timid attempt to find like-minded people at work, unfortunately, did not work, so I had to portray something in proud loneliness. Well, okay!

At the beginning of summer, he finally gathered his courage and went to school. I have as many as 3 schools right next to the house, almost wall to wall. In the first school, the guard turned out to be pretty under a degree and at first did not understand at all what I wanted (summer probably affects). Then he called someone, but after explaining the situation, he immediately hung up and informed me that they didn’t need me here. But I didn’t even have time to explain to anyone what I was actually proposing! A very encouraging start, yes ... I decided to try it again, since the schools are still nearby. I went into the second. Here the guard turned out to be quite normal, but he said that the school is for mentally retarded children and still no one from the administration and chancellery is at school in the summer. Well, I went to last school. Again the guard, again I introduced myself and briefly described what I was offering. And here, too, there was no one, but “the director just left!” Go catch up. ” And indeed, on the steps of the stairs I caught up with the woman and introduced myself, she turned out to be the director of this school. Again briefly told who I am, where I came from and what I want. She found out if I work and what kind of education I have. And, it seems that my proposal interested her. At last! We agreed that I would come in a few days for a more detailed conversation.

I arrived at the appointed time and began to wait for my turn to get to the director (still, here are the final exams because everyone has understandable problems, and besides, the teachers also want to solve their problems). Finally, I was invited, and I described in more detail the proposed program of classes, the number of hours per week and the material base, as well as how many people the group will consist of. In general terms, the principal was satisfied with everything, and besides, there were no such circles at the school until this time (I didn’t really doubt that, of course).

But here I was stunned by the fact that it would be necessary to officially apply for the post of teacher of additional education. As it turned out, it's just that you can’t come to school and arrange any (albeit free) classes. To be honest, up to this point I somehow hadn’t thought about it, although this is of course correct and logical: you shouldn’t let anyone get to the children. I was completely unprepared for such a turn, but there was nothing to do. The secretary began to tell what certificates and documents I would need to collect. I've never collected so much in my life:
  • get honey. a book
  • police clearance certificate
  • certificates from drug addiction and psycho. dispensaries
  • certificate from the police department
  • a copy of the work book from the place of work (I get a part-time job)
  • passport, SNILS, copy of diploma and TIN

Then my hands dropped again ... "Make honey. book ”is not just to get it. This means first getting a new blank book, then going through all the conceivable and inconceivable doctors in your clinic, and then listening to some lecture in the sanitary and epidemiological station and putting a hologram. Obtaining a certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is much simpler - you just have to hit the hell two times to hell, with an interval of a month. Inquiries from the drug and mental hospital, it turns out, are given only at the place of registration. I have never been to the KVD; the pleasure is also very dubious. In general, when I took directions to receive these certificates in the school’s office, I didn’t even suspect what I was signing up for. If there are people willing, then I can write another big article about getting all these pieces of paper, because when I received them, I probably collected all the rakes that exist.

So, by the beginning of September (well, somewhere around the second week) I was still able to get all the required papers. At school I met a woman who coordinates the direction of ext. education. She explained how the guys enrolled in all kinds of circles, and also gave the requirements for the program of further education. Agreed with her the number and duration of classes. I wrote a job application and signed it with the director. Then he took all the documents to the personnel department, filled out a questionnaire to receive a bank card, and wrote an autobiography that all teachers write (this is also quite an interesting point. You should briefly list your relatives, their occupation, and also write about your education, place of work and their hobbies). Although I didn’t talk to anyone about the salary, I still had to get a bank card,

As a result, from Friday, September 13, I am a school teacher. Then the most important thing is to recruit a group for classes. I made an announcement that I was hoping to attract the guys and pasted it at school in the most prominent places. In addition, it turned out that the school is not one building, but three. So I posted the ads there too. Plus, I managed to agree that in one of the school buildings I would go through classes (from 6 to 10) during the lessons and briefly tell the guys about the circle. Surprisingly, no one called me in 5 days after the announcement. Not a single student and not a single parent. There was hope that it would be possible to attract the guys with their announcement. In the morning I came to school, I was given an assistant to a primary school teacher and with her I went around 10 classes (2 classes in parallel) with a two-minute story about classes in electronics and robotics. Here the effect was much stronger: it was clear that some were interested, some even began to ask questions. At the next break, 5 or 6 people signed up for classes, and the girl signed up for the very first! I was a little surprised, but it's even great. On this my campaign to attract young technicians was over, I went to work.

As a result, after a few days, there were 12 people on the list of people wishing to study. Mostly these are sixth and seventh graders, but there are two of the 9th. As I understand it, high school students have somewhat different interests. During the recording, I was even called twice by the parents of one second-grader and one third-grader, but, in my opinion, such classes will be too premature for them. Also last week I drew up a program, the presence of which is required by the Ministry of Education, and placed announcements of the first lesson in the school.

Conclusion

On this I would like to end an already long post. I don’t know yet whether something will come out of my idea or not, but how I was convinced to organize classes is quite real. A lot has remained outside the scope and I have something to tell:
  • what is the training program planned
  • what projects will be implemented by the guys
  • what's with the material base of the mug (all kinds of soldering irons, hoods, breadboards, computers, electronic designers, buying in Chinese stores, etc.)
  • how was the processing of documents and certificates
  • And today the first lesson took place!

So if the habrasociety is interested in any of the above, then you know what to do.
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