Come and see our giant breadboard at booth #2652 at ISTE 2018

Our giant ISTE breadboard isn’t a wonder of the world – yet – but it is the largest one ever constructed. *Disclaimer: that we know of.  Why is a breadboard a vital part of STEM and maker education? How can you use it to bring circuitry to life in the classroom? Read below to find out!

 Overheard in the Teq offices

“Let’s do something really fun for ISTE.”

“Something that people will want to come and see!”

“Something with a breadboard, maybe?”

“Yeah, let’s make a breadboard! A gigantic one.”

“Why gigantic?”

“It’ll be funny. Everything’s funny when it’s way bigger than normal.”

Breadboard 101

Breadboards are hardware used to build temporary solderless circuits. Breadboards are a great solution for teaching circuitry in the classroom as they are cost effective, re-usable, and easy to work with. Use them to reinvent the way you teach students about electron flow, voltage, current, resistance, circuit functions, and more!

Want to learn more about breadboards, circuitry, and how to tie it all together? Teq Online PD has an Introduction to Circuits Using Breadboards course that you can view with a subscription to the platform.

Why should you come see the giant ISTE breadboard?

Some things just have to be seen in person, and our giant 4 x 5 ½ foot breadboard is one of them. We took the idea of the solderless breadboard circuit and supersized it from its normal size (pocket size) to something that’s too big to fit in your trunk. We created our masterpiece using polyethylene foam, pool noodles, 3D printed LED light caps (shout out to MakerBot!), and some maker education muscle. Turns out it’s a great tool for teaching the basics of circuitry and making complicated concepts easier (and more fun!).

The Making of the Breadboard

Making the breadboard was a labor of love. For over 40 hours, our team of Curriculum Specialists from Teq Online PD painstakingly measured, cut, and constructed it – take a look at the video below for a quick (very quick!) peek at the process. From the vertical power rails, to the horizontal strips, our giant breadboard has plenty of space to build all the connections you need. For what, you ask? Come to booth #2652 to find out!

Hungry for more ISTE?

• Schedule a time to meet with Teq at our ISTE booth (2652)
• Need some basic info? For general information about ISTE, the epicenter of edtech, visit the ISTE Conference 2018 website.
• Looking for Teq at ISTE? Here’s a helpful floorplan of the Expo space – we’re at Booth #2652 (just search “teq” and it will highlight on the map)!
• What’s happening at our booth? It’s all about maker education! Stop Teq booth for #2652 for amazing STEM sessions on 3D printing, how to hack your DDR, “be internet awesome” with Google for Education, and to learn the basics of circuitry with a giant 50-pound breadboard.
• Attend our interactive lecture! Our very own Curriculum Specialist, Jessica Wenke, will be presenting Creating a STEAM Makerspace Program: Ideas and Considerations on Sunday, June 24 from 10-11AM.
• Join us at the SMART booth! Our Director of eLearning, Joseph Sanfilippo, will be at the SMART booth (#1203) running a lesson with some lucky volunteer students. Learn how technology is changing the face of lesson delivery and classroom interaction.