EM education | DIY circuitwood

What is Electromagnetic Education?

– Do-It-Yourself: Circuitwood with Creatures –

ONE interesting way to learn and teach about electromagnetism is through craft projects which can introduce concepts to a group by way of analogy or metaphor. The project 'circuitwood' provides one example of this approach. The idea was developed based upon a piece of driftwood found at a beach, and later learning about circuit boards and circuitry, at the same time collecting electronics 'junk' from surplus store 'grab-bags' that was not usable with a novice skill level for applications, though for decoration and sculptural qualities offered continued interest.

THUS, a beige piece of petrified driftwood with etching made by small stones during the tidal movements became as a way to interpret and conceptualize the idea of an electronics circuit, and in doing so, the electronics components could take on a more 'insect' or bug quality, as integrated circuits (IC) are sometimes referred to. The electronics components then become creatures to learn more about in their relation to their unique habitat.

THE circuitwood is made from driftwood though it would seem equally possible that any wood that is engraved with a router or woodburner would offer other ways to approach this same conceptualization, though the circuitwood is a natural object and so it retains a direct connection to biological lifeforms. Observing the different varieties of circuit boards for computers and other equipment, the particular 'green' and silver or gold aspects were duplicated though at a larger scale. The acrylic paint was watered down for translucence and coats of black, multiple mixtures of lighter to darker green paint was applied to the surface outside of the etched areas. The result is an ever-changing surface of green, whose rough edges at the end are brown and black. The 'etched' areas are painted black, with outlines in various colors to attempt to draw out the last layer of silver pen, which represents circuitry. The entire circuitwood object then is covered in a matte varnish. All such supplies, minus the driftwood itself, can be found at a craft store.

circuitwood with creatures, side. bc ©-free 2004.

THE next part of the project requires electronic objects that, feasible, can be imagined as a type of bug or insect or creature of some kind, given enough imagination and story telling. To easily locate such resources, order an inexpensive $5-10 electronics "grab bag" or "surprise box", which most online stores sell, containing transistors, coils, and chips all mixed together. See 'unique products' at Electronics Goldmine, for an example. Avoid purchasing new electronics in separate bags (bag of transistors, bag of coils) as this is unnecessary and costly. Also, make sure not to order an SMD (surface-mount device) grab bag as these are miniature compared to the components used, and will be hard to see and very hard to talk about how they work as artifacts.

circuitwood with creatures, angle. bc ©-free 2004.

KEY to the process of obtaining electronics components is in the locating of interesting and dynamic ones, that may indicate some 'personality' to them, or expressiveness. Besides grab bags, de soldering provides a way to pick and choose specific components and some which will likely not be found in grab bags, such as small piezo speakers, USB ports, ethernet, and power connectors. Thus, the circuitwood can become a custom curatorial project, a miniature bestiary of electronic creatures.

ONCE the circuitwood is painted and the surplus electronics are gathered, then the fun really begins, as much can be learned in making this a group project. The circuitwood shown above was a collaborative effort of three little people and an adult who talked about these objects as bugs on a log, and imaginations from that point on took over the process and an hour of supergluing objects went by in an instant, while talking about how various objects look like other things. While the log was referred to as an alligator, the silver USB port, a toaster, the other components were also seen as mosquitos (transistors), beetles (integrated circuits), caterpillars, dew (amber beads, and other things (such as placing two ICs together like jaws, for a new type of creature).

ARTIFACTs seen on side 1 include integrated circuits, ethernet plug, transistors, resistor network, SMD capacitor, oscillating crystal, USB port, capacitor, infrared transistor, amber bead, LED lights, and coil.

ARTIFACTs seen on side 2 include an electrical power connector, large resistor, very small SMD resistors (on bark), a dual 7-segment lens-based Integrated circuit, capacitors, large (possibly programmable) integrated circuit, computer speaker, mylar capacitor, pink LED, and coil.

CIRCUITWOOD, as an electronics learning project based in DIY crafts, is an approach that offers a way to open up imaginations at the same time as introducing basic concepts about circuitry and electronic components. Such that, the creatures get their energy from the silver etched areas, and so are placed nearby. And, the concepts of components, their aesthetics can help familiarize these otherwise unseen artifacts which are at the same time ubiquitous inside their much more insular environments. Handling such materials is not without caution, and hands should not touch the objects and the face, nor superglue. And washing with soap and water to make sure any chemicals are washed away is an absolute must. If anything, letting the collaborative process evolve around decision making, discussing the ideas, and placement of objects works very well, while the handling of questionable components and glueing should likely be in the realm of adults or supervision. The circuitwood is a great way to demonstrate a variety of things, and also as a group project there is a single object that can be made by many. One idea for this approach is if introducing concepts in early education, about transistors, and during that learning experience transistors would be added onto the DIY circuitwood project. So, from circuitboard to components, relationships could be seen or explored outside a strictly technical realm, yet within a conceptual environment in which abstractions can be observed in the behavior of electronic creatures. (bc 8.28.2004)

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