Fall is a terrific time to get cozy around a warm fire and sip apple cider. And, if you’re lucky, it’s also a fantastic time to notice the subtle changes in nature, such as leaves changing color and drifting to the ground in crunchy, colorful piles! No matter where you might find yourself at this […]
Playground Operatronics is Something to Sing About
Powered through an Infosys Foundation grant, geared toward bringing the Playground Opera program and Chibitronics’ circuit technologies together to support Title 1 schools in the United States, Chibitronics and Opera on Tap have combined forces to create Playground Operatronics, a music education and STEAM program for kids! In September 2022, Playground Opera teaching artists (TAs) […]
10 Ways to Use Magnets with Paper Circuits
Whether you are an educator, artist, or maker (or any combination of the three) magnets are one of the most useful supplies in a paper crafter’s toolbox! Adhesive backed sheet magnets, ceramic magnets, and rare earth (neodymium) magnets are all useful when creating paper circuits. Here are 10 of our favorite ways to use magnets with paper […]
Big News: Switch from Copper to Conductive Fabric Tape!
We’re excited to announce that we are switching from copper foil tape to conductive fabric tape in four of our core kits: the STEM Starter Kit, Intro Kit, White LED Stickers Educator Pack and Red/Yellow/Blue LED Stickers Educator pack. What’s the difference between Copper versus Conductive Fabric tape? Both copper tape and conductive fabric tape […]
Lift to Light: An Electrified Cobweb Card
In our first reed switch tutorial, Magical Magnetism: Intro to Reed Switches (Normally Open), we introduced the most common type of reed switch, demonstrated how to use one in a circuit, and showed how to make a magnetic wand that can trigger any circuit you make with one. In this follow up tutorial, Magical Magnetism: Intro […]
Shiela Lee’s Top 10
A List to Teach By Recently, we caught up again with Shiela Lee, STEM teacher and technology coordinator at Beekman Hill International School, PS 59, New York City, and picked up where we left off with the Featured Educator writeup. This time we opened up the discussion so we could learn more from her on […]
Magical Magnetic Wand & Chibitronics Reed Switch (Magnet On)
Magnets, like wands, are magical! In my tutorial, Magical Magnetism: Intro to Reed Switches (Magnet On), I’ll show you how to make a magnetic wand that can trigger a circuit you make with a reed switch. A reed switch and magnet are an intriguing duo possessing magical qualities that may be applied in countless ways. […]
Introducing the Chibitronics Paper Circuits STEAM Educator’s Guide
We have worked with hundreds of educators around the world who have incorporated Chibitronics into their teaching, but we have never before had an all-in-one resource to help them get started. Enter…the Paper Circuits STEAM Educator’s Guide! This 185-page guide was written with both K-12 and informal educators in mind. It includes 19 arts-integrated lesson […]
Join us for Pathfinders Summer 2022 – Paper Circuits and Coding Across the Curriculum
K-12 US public school teachers! Chibitronics is excited to join Infosys Foundation’s virtual #InfyPathfinders Summer Institute, exclusively at Infosys.org/PathfindersOnline. Use this link to create a free account today to register for our course PAPER CIRCUITS AND CODING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM. Apply now for and choose one of summer’s 7-week courses: Every Wednesday, 7:00 PM – 9:30 […]
Testing Continuity with a Multimeter
The continuity feature of a multimeter allows you to test for conductivity of materials and trace where electrical connections have been made (or not made). When working with paper circuits, the continuity function of a multimeter is useful for locating wonky connections (joints that should be well connected, but aren’t) and unintended connections (parts that should […]
USB Powered Paper Circuits: An Alternative to Coin Batteries
Coin batteries are great for powering paper circuits, but they can be costly — both in terms of expense and environmental impact. USB power is a great substitute for coin batteries if you need more power, want to leave a project turned on, or don’t want to keep switching out batteries. It’s also useful for […]
Ambassadors Barbara Liedahl and Chris Awad at FETC 2022
“This is what I remember: teachers were leaning forward as we shared out…” – Barbara Liedahl <The Conference> FETC, the annual Future of Education and Technology conference, started more than 40 years ago, has grown into one of the must-attend, big-tent meetups for teacher and administrators, instructional technologists, and education policy and thought leaders. This […]