--- title: SparkFun Education Blog | Maya Kleinbort description: Maker Education Blog --- [![Sparkfun](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/img/logo.png)](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/index.html) - [SparkFun Webstore](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Higher Ed](https://sparkfuneducation.com/higher-ed/index.html) - [Contact Us](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/contact-us.html) - [Follow Us](https://twitter.com/SparkFunEDU) - [Home](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Blog](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Curriculum](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/curriculum.html) - [PD/Events](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/professional-dev.html) - [KITS/Materials](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/materials.html) - [Educator Stories](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/educator-stories.html) - [Activities](https://activities.sparkfuneducation.com) [Blog Home](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/) / SparkFun Education Blog ## Maya Kleinbort ![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Maya.jpg) ### Recent Posts [![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/2b-6rxAm3oEpIVo5-CcfBOYWKzR8LgON5teFDRt9CfbP2sa6pY_YbXEvDVn6q_o5nBw2qhl6t8envDRwdoTXfO04rbWW7FH99oLVhDtYfYr7Sgh793OjqpSAkcw1otM6uLcl9jfG)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/light-up-valentine-cards-blog) ## [Light-Up Valentine Card Activity](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/light-up-valentine-cards-blog) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 2/4/19, 6:33 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/light-up-valentine-cards-blog#comments-listing) [paper circuits](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/paper-circuits) [student projects](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/student-projects) [basic circuits](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/basic-circuits) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Light up your love with paper circuits this Valentine’s Day - no soldering required! This tutorial will guide you through how to create simple paper circuitry using only copper tape, a coin cell ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/light-up-valentine-cards-blog) [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pXa0NJd3mmVu0lnvSeryZ4dh3SpxmY2YYgJfVqbRsm84f8LG2iE8RX_nQr-enrHu3xhQLM56qKMmgsJwcmQcmqvN9hSCCui_OycdksH2LviHGVlsMt9HUkIaiOgWpHNYN6rZyrQI)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/switches-blog) ## [What is a Switch? And SO MUCH MORE](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/switches-blog) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 1/29/19, 6:28 AM [3](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/switches-blog#comments-listing) [What is a](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/what-is-a) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) One of the most elementary and easy-to-overlook circuit component is the switch. Switches don’t require any fancy equations to evaluate. All they do is select between an open circuit and a short ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/switches-blog) [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UeA0uYrWS1ySQ0Sd-teEERcxpm-RHglyLd6QSya01r1RaMzvsj4LenXMypTYjEAq86DghknHeipjUy82u1Q8GLBb12Zuayi1KkpAP10bG-gQJ1FffIFzSRz0sC2BWC1bplNstFQ8)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-servo) ## [What is a Servo?](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-servo) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 1/10/19, 6:28 AM [1](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-servo#comments-listing) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [What is a](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/what-is-a) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) A servo, short for servomechanism or servomotor, is a simple mechanism that adds movement to any electronics project. This useful motor, originally found in remote-controlled cars and airplanes, is ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-servo) [![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_8hzOB3MqJ7lztVcWzmukL9_ZdNblPdvVvjAjFUQwQmQNH75HybAKqG-TV4IJoe0f9r9idj_Dr8rr7eotl23V9VTjdY5XrNd2Wv1Tgrm6sHhGqwS5U14PeW66xGHXuGaHKj1-2lc)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-round-up-of-our-top-20-favorite-stem-articles) ## [Our Top 25 Favorite STEM Articles of 2018](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-round-up-of-our-top-20-favorite-stem-articles) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 12/6/18, 6:24 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-round-up-of-our-top-20-favorite-stem-articles#comments-listing) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [STEAM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/steam) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) [STEM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) We are constantly on the lookout for interesting articles in the fields of STEM education, ed tech and computer science. Over the past year, we saved some of our favorites, along with some of the ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-round-up-of-our-top-20-favorite-stem-articles) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/Micro4Ed%20Class-08.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-shiny-new-professional-development-offerings-for-computer-science-and-electronics) ## [SparkFun's New Professional Development Offerings for Computer Science and Electronics](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-shiny-new-professional-development-offerings-for-computer-science-and-electronics) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 11/1/18, 6:25 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-shiny-new-professional-development-offerings-for-computer-science-and-electronics#comments-listing) [Professional Development](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/professional-development) [announcement](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/announcement) [Training](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/training) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Now that the school year is underway and everyone is settling into their regular routines, there might be more time in your schedule to think about your Spring and Summer plans. For many of you, that ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-shiny-new-professional-development-offerings-for-computer-science-and-electronics) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202018-10-04%20at%2011.46.31%20AM.png)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/stem-education-twitter-accounts-we-are-loving-right-now) ## [STEM Education Twitter Accounts We Are Loving Right Now](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/stem-education-twitter-accounts-we-are-loving-right-now) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 10/9/18, 6:30 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/stem-education-twitter-accounts-we-are-loving-right-now#comments-listing) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [STEM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) I recently took a more active role in the SparkFunEDU Twitter account to see more of the cool things going on in our community. It was such a fun surprise to see the incredible projects and support ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/stem-education-twitter-accounts-we-are-loving-right-now) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/edupanel.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/our-first-education-panel-at-iste-2018) ## [Our first education panel at ISTE 2018](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/our-first-education-panel-at-iste-2018) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 9/11/18, 6:44 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/our-first-education-panel-at-iste-2018#comments-listing) [Events](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/events) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) At ISTE 2018, we wanted to try something that was truly engaging and informative for our audience. There are many schools out there using SparkFun hardware, and there are many out there who would ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/our-first-education-panel-at-iste-2018) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/Paper%20Circuits/paper-circuits-banner.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/paper-circuits-the-one-thing-youve-been-missing-in-basic-circuitry-instruction) ## [Paper Circuits: The One Thing You’ve Been Missing in Basic Circuitry Instruction](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/paper-circuits-the-one-thing-youve-been-missing-in-basic-circuitry-instruction) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 8/2/18, 6:30 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/paper-circuits-the-one-thing-youve-been-missing-in-basic-circuitry-instruction#comments-listing) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Since its inception eight years ago, the SparkFun Education team has held myriad trainings, workshops and professional development courses. The skill level of the participants in our courses has ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/paper-circuits-the-one-thing-youve-been-missing-in-basic-circuitry-instruction) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/Micro4Ed%20Class-08.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microcontrollers-for-educators-implementing-computer-science-in-the-classroom) ## [Microcontrollers for Educators: Implementing Computer Science in the Classroom.](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microcontrollers-for-educators-implementing-computer-science-in-the-classroom) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 6/28/18, 6:21 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microcontrollers-for-educators-implementing-computer-science-in-the-classroom#comments-listing) [Professional Development](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/professional-development) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [Training](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/training) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Part of our mission here at SparkFun is to provide teachers with the foundational tools they need to succeed in the classroom. For the past 8 years, we have been hosting a 5-day workshop, called ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microcontrollers-for-educators-implementing-computer-science-in-the-classroom) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Robot_Finished.png)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-best-beginner-stem-kits-for-you-and-your-students) ## [SparkFun’s best beginner STEM kits for you and your students](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-best-beginner-stem-kits-for-you-and-your-students) BY [Maya Kleinbort](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) 6/7/18, 6:23 AM [1](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-best-beginner-stem-kits-for-you-and-your-students#comments-listing) [paper circuits](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/paper-circuits) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [Makey Makey](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/makey-makey) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [basic circuits](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/basic-circuits) [STEAM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/steam) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) [STEM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) [SIK](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/sik) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Get a jump start on next fall's lesson plans by checking out the best of our beginner's kits!... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/sparkfuns-best-beginner-stem-kits-for-you-and-your-students) [All posts](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/all) [Next](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort/page/2) ### Subscribe to SparkFun Education Blog ### Topics - [helpful information (79)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) - [Maker Education (60)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) - [teaching tools (55)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) - [getting started (54)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) - [Guest Post (44)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/guest-post) - [computer science (40)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) - [micro:bit (38)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) - [student projects (37)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/student-projects) - [STEM (36)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) - [programming (34)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) - [STEAM (31)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/steam) - [Events (28)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/events) - [Arduino (25)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/arduino) - [robotics (20)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/robotics) - [e-textiles (18)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/e-textiles) - [Professional Development (17)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/professional-development) - [basic circuits (17)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/basic-circuits) - [What is a (16)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/what-is-a) - [announcement (16)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/announcement) - [makerspace (15)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/makerspace) - [Community Partnership Program (14)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/community-partnership-program) - [Training (13)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/training) - [raspberry pi (13)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [python (11)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) - [AVC (10)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/avc) - [paper circuits (10)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/paper-circuits) - [Makey Makey (8)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/makey-makey) - [SIK (8)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/sik) - [Adventures in Science (7)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/adventures-in-science) - [microcontroller (7)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microcontroller) - [Internet of Things (5)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/internet-of-things) - [Processing (4)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/processing) - [Javascript (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/javascript) - [LilyPad (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/lilypad) - [funding (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/funding) - [weather (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/weather) - [Insider (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/insider) - [Johnny-five (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/johnny-five) All Tags ### Recent Authors - [Megan Hemmings (79)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) - [Maya Kleinbort (22)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) - [Derek Runberg (21)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) - [Shane Diller (16)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shane-diller) - [Jeff Branson (15)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jeff-branson) - [Angela Sheehan (12)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/angela-sheehan) - [Melissa Felderman (9)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/melissa-felderman) - [Megan Arnold (8)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-arnold) - [Brian Huang (6)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/brian-huang) - [Shawn Hymel (6)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shawn-hymel) - [Shelby Landsman (6)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shelby-landsman) - [Jahnell Pereira (5)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jahnell-pereira) - [Hailey Blessing (5)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/hailey-blessing) - [Mike Grusin (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/mike-grusin) - [Peter Hanson (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/peter-hanson) - [Andrew Milne (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/andrew-milne) - [Toni Klopfenstein (2)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/toni-klopfenstein) - [Joanna Drusin (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/joanna-drusin) - [Joe Romano (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/joe-romano) - [Mrinali P. Kesavadas (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/mrinali-p-kesavadas) - [Christa Flores (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/christa-flores) - [Michelle Shorter (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/michelle-shorter) - [Colleen Graves (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/colleen-graves) - [Janelle Curtis (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/janelle-curtis) - [Eric Bogatin (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/eric-bogatin) - [Athena Zhang Baker (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/athena-zhang-baker) - [Janice Levenhagen (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/janice-levenhagen) - [Carol Hamilton (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/carol-hamilton) - [Vanessa Lail (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/vanessa-lail) - [Bobby Chan (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/bobby-chan) - [Glenn Samala (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/glenn-samala) - [Zack Weaver (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/zack-weaver) - [Dr. Jean-Sébastien Blouin (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/dr-jean-sébastien-blouin) - [Daphne Sipes (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/daphne-sipes) - [Axel Reitzig (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/axel-reitzig) - [Justin Weisz (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/justin-weisz) - [Kylie Peppler (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/kylie-peppler) - [Michael Megliola (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/michael-megliola) - [Casey Kuhns (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/casey-kuhns) - [Rebecca Grabman (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/rebecca-grabman) - [Sylvia Martinez (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/sylvia-martinez) - [Charles Randolph (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/charles-randolph) - [Ira Sather-Olson (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/ira-sather-olson) - [Kathy Strickland (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/kathy-strickland) - [Pete Lewis (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/pete-lewis) - [Jamie Roth (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jamie-roth) - [Mimi Tran Zambetti (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/mimi-tran-zambetti) - [Ryan Jenkins (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/ryan-jenkins) - [Kristen Deuschle (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/kristen-deuschle) - [Erika Myers (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/erika-myers) - [Sara Gonzalez (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/sara-gonzalez) - [Celeste Moreno (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/celeste-moreno) - [Samantha Nagle (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/samantha-nagle) - [Pearce Melcher (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/pearce-melcher) All Authors ### Recent Posts ### Submit Your Idea [![SparkFun Education](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/img/logo.png)](http://www.sparkfuneducation.com/index.html) #### Other Resources - [Contact Us](http://www.sparkfuneducation.com/contact-us.html) - [About SparkFun](http://www.sparkfun.com) - [FAQs](https://www.sparkfun.com/static/faq) - [Customer Service](https://www.sparkfun.com/support) - [Shipping](https://www.sparkfun.com/support) - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.sparkfun.com/terms) #### Sign Up for Newsletter © Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved.