The ARRL is preparing to present the 2013 sessions of its popular Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology this summer. For the fourth year in a row, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) will provide financial support for the advanced session of the Teachers Institute (TI-2). The TI-2 session -- Remote Sensing and Data Gathering -- will be held July 22-25 at DARA’s new classroom facility at their clubhouse in Dayton, Ohio. In addition, there will be two basic Teachers Institute sessions (TI-1) this summer: One at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut (July 8-11) and one at Parallax, Inc in Rocklin, California (July 15-18).

The TI-1 sessions are geared toward classroom instructors who wish to develop tools and strategies to introduce basic electronics, radio science, space technology and satellite communications, as well as weather science, microcontrollers and basic robotics in their classroom. The TI-2 session -- available only to those educators who have attended a TI-1 session -- will focus on the basic electronics behind the employment of sensors (such as temperature, pressure, position and humidity), analog-to-digital conversion techniques, the microcontroller programming involved in accessing the sensors and the use of radio (packet radio-like data links) that connect those sensor outputs to the user. Once the basics of remote sensing are introduced, teachers will explore numerous deployment systems that they might use in their classrooms to include land and water robots, buoys, balloons and satellites.

“The goal of the ARRL’s TI program is to equip each teacher with necessary foundational knowledge,” explained ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ. “Through hands-on learning, we hope to generate the inspiration for teachers to continue to explore wireless technology and adapt relevant content into their classroom instruction. This training serves as excellent foundational preparation for teachers interested in including classroom learning about radio communications and wireless technology as part of student preparation for participation in the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.”

Applicants to any TI session must be an active teacher at an elementary, middle or high school, or a community college or university, or in a leadership or enrichment instruction role in an after-school program. Applicants do not need to hold an Amateur Radio license to apply to attend a TI-1 session. TI-2 participants must possess at least a Technician class license at the time of application and be an ARRL member.

More information about the Teachers Institute -- including the application, curriculum content, participant requirements, dates and locations and other details -- is available on the Teacher Institute for Wireless Technology web page.

In addition to DARA, Yaesu, Ham Radio Outlet and Parallax Inc have generously provided additional in-kind support for the Teachers Institutes. This professional development training is offered at no cost to the teachers, but is funded through grants and donations to the ARRL’s Education & Technology Fund. Donate today and support Wireless Technology Literacy.