That certain something, not easy to define but with the edge of wow! about it. Or a TV program when mentors assist protégés to obtain remarkable results? Well ‘Project X’ had both meanings covered last Tuesday at Casebrook Intermediate.

20 Year 7 students spent the day and most of their lunchtime being mentored in electronics by six electrical engineers. The result of which combined learning some hands on skills and an introduction to computer programming.

‘Project X’ is a fully sponsored daylong program. Supported by Futureintech, Airways, Tait Electronics and IET (The Institution of Engineering and Technology) it allowed our students to assemble an electronic Christmas tree that includes a programmable chip.

The morning was spent engrossed in the quiet labour of identifying components and soldering them carefully in place. What skills! The technical ability required challenged many but all persevered and completed the project. After an initial test of the battery powered circuit and many grinning faces it was time for lunch. After something to eat in the staffroom the mentors and I approached the classroom where the students are already lined up! Very excited to learn the dark arts of computer programming they stream in and tackle the coding language that will enable them to develop an individualised sequence of flashing lights and then to access the tune they would like to play at the same time.

A project that definitely delivers the X factor, all the people, adults and children alike expressed their delight at how well the day had gone, very satisfied by their own learning.

For a small fee, to cover material costs in Term 2, Casebrook Intermediate School will be running an after school programming and electronics club. The club will meet every Tuesday at 3.00pm until 4.15pm and is run by Paul Cook the Hard Materials teacher at Casebrook and Clive Irion a recently retired Casebrook classroom teacher.

The students will assemble an amplifier and speaker unit to run off an iPod or phone. Later in the year we will be using mentors supplied through Futurintech to teach the children (and Messer’s Cook and Irion) how to program an Arduino controlled project. Arduino is a small processor that can be hooked up to a variety of sensors and outputs, enabling our students to experiment with the ever-expanding world of computing in a hands-on, active way. Time to get creative!

Paul Cook