--- title: SparkFun Education Blog | Megan Hemmings (5) description: Maker Education Blog (5) --- [![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 ## Megan Hemmings ![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Feb%202017/Cool%20Hemmings.jpg) ### Recent Posts [![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6V4OGSnKH8ZWLQ32oXXuFdK-Xypi5xC2LWlU-NUWAg20IltrKSfkO-EMKEGknQviUP8F_7aqZOwxHbx15FMsI-NpOGtbkapLx4StcB2l0LQVKWj4Cb1-cwOGTvuUFhOvFASioR8p)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/electronics-bucket-list) ## [Electronics Bucket List](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/electronics-bucket-list) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 7/5/18 6:36 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/electronics-bucket-list#comments-listing) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Recently, one of my friends shared a picture of her annual bucket list that she created for her birthday. This got me thinking about all the things I continually tell myself I want to try and then ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/electronics-bucket-list) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Vellum.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/the-thrill-of-the-first-make) ## [The Thrill of the First Make](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/the-thrill-of-the-first-make) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 7/3/18 6:24 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/the-thrill-of-the-first-make#comments-listing) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) [STEAM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/steam) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Over the years, I’ve had the chance to give a few different techniques a try - from building circuits to soldering to 3D printing. Each time, learning a new skill thrilled me and brought a sense of ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/the-thrill-of-the-first-make) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/8167729010_617f9d742b_z.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/ways-to-support-making-in-the-classroom) ## [Ways to Support Making in the Classroom](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/ways-to-support-making-in-the-classroom) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 6/12/18 6:35 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/ways-to-support-making-in-the-classroom#comments-listing) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) As maker education becomes more and more popular and the benefits become more widespread, many educators are looking for ways to support making in their own classroom but don’t know where to start. ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/ways-to-support-making-in-the-classroom) [![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/0ObhNtebun0Hs4VbaO3Neptbrknkms-Ht_uvXU-ivtcDfr_2MFGP4nAxltYtbh8_wE9cZFaKdHc4UtlV0DpipCI671GYzQ4d9sLwJUBWRxUrb-RXuVjvg281nvAbRO6yYCF69J3C)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-potentiometer) ## [What is a Potentiometer?](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-potentiometer) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 5/24/18 6:38 AM [2](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-potentiometer#comments-listing) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) [What is a](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/what-is-a) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) If you want to create a project with a variable element - such as light or sound- chances are, you’re going to need a potentiometer. But what is a potentiometer and how do they work?... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-potentiometer) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/24650431264_6f8492d1c4_z.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/unexpected-jobs-that-use-computer-science) ## [Unexpected Jobs That Use Computer Science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/unexpected-jobs-that-use-computer-science) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 5/8/18 7:00 AM [2](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/unexpected-jobs-that-use-computer-science#comments-listing) [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) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) While not all students will end up pursuing careers in computer science, it is still be a good idea for all students to learn the basics. More and more seemingly unrelated careers are now using basic ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/unexpected-jobs-that-use-computer-science) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/The_Magic_School_Bus.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/lessons-learned-from-magic-school-bus) ## [Lessons Learned from Magic School Bus](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/lessons-learned-from-magic-school-bus) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 4/10/18 7:00 AM [2](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/lessons-learned-from-magic-school-bus#comments-listing) [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) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) On a recent day of catching up on my reading, I stumbled upon an article by Amanda Baker titled, “Recognizing Ms. Frizzle's Own Magic.” In the article, Ms. Baker talks about how she doesn’t remember ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/lessons-learned-from-magic-school-bus) [![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xuHxm41U5MqjDLyvm8x1He8GnF3QoU80gBWHcUgX0o-85itY-R9Xcffnrymviui2p1_p639LiVVCn670zTq7e3mGIrt4fiNPOpiearnDqqZc-I0BeTG0uW0kPCKIZ5G5luqjygW9)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/5-projects-using-raspberry-pi) ## [5 Projects to Make With Your Students Using Raspberry Pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/5-projects-using-raspberry-pi) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 3/15/18 6:29 AM [1](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/5-projects-using-raspberry-pi#comments-listing) [student projects](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/student-projects) [Internet of Things](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/internet-of-things) [raspberry pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Raspberry Pi is a great tool for teaching students both physical computing and programming. A powerful microprocessor, Raspberry Pi can be used for anything from building your own computer to ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/5-projects-using-raspberry-pi) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Feb%202018/SIK_Project1_Circuit1C_Action.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-photoresistor) ## [What is a Photoresistor?](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-photoresistor) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 3/8/18 6:24 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-photoresistor#comments-listing) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) [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) So you have an idea for a project, but it requires the end product to react to the light around it...whatever will you do? Luckily there is a simple component that can be used to make this happen: a ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/what-is-a-photoresistor) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Feb%202018/28207918931_826e74a4cf_z.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/we-need-you-survey) ## [We Need You...to Help Determine Our Future](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/we-need-you-survey) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 2/8/18 6:38 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/we-need-you-survey#comments-listing) [announcement](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/announcement) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Since its inception, SparkFun Education has been dedicated to creating products and resources designed with the needs of educators in mind. This has led to some fantastic discussion with individual ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/we-need-you-survey) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Feb%202018/24445181093_9f2de37aff_z.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/science-fair-ideas) ## [Science Fair Project Ideas](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/science-fair-ideas) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 2/6/18 6:28 AM [1](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/science-fair-ideas#comments-listing) [student projects](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/student-projects) [STEM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Science fair season is upon us, so we’re taking a look at some exciting science fair project ideas from around the web.... 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