Free. Kits at cost.
- Length
- 8 weeks.
- Price
- Free; optional kit at cost, EST $45 to $80 (soroban $12.99 to $29.90 + ESP32-C3 about $8 + switch $14.99 + cables + paper gear printouts).
Outcomes.
Build and explain five working technologies; understand where “one person can rebuild it” stops (the integrated circuit); write a build record others can follow.
Weeks.
| Week | Build | Idea |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sundial (LA gnomon at 34°) | Latitude, solar noon |
| 2 | Water clock | Flow rate, feedback control |
| 3 | Soroban abacus | Place value to binary |
| 4 | Antikythera paper gear train (64→38, 48→24, 127→32) | Ratios, primes, astronomy |
| 5 | Pascaline (free CMU design, makerspace laser cutter) | The mechanical carry |
| 6 | Relays and transistors (Elenco 60-in-1, $41.99, shared) | Electronic switching |
| 7 | Mini network (ESP32 + switch + Cat6) | Addresses, ping, a web server |
| 8 | Capstone: logic gates to a one-neuron perceptron (Nand2Tetris, free) | From switches to AI |
Hands-on build.
Sundial (LA gnomon at 34°); water clock; soroban abacus; Antikythera paper gear train (64→38, 48→24, 127→32); Pascaline (free CMU design, makerspace laser cutter); relays and transistors (Elenco 60-in-1, $41.99, shared); mini network (ESP32 + switch + Cat6); capstone: logic gates to a one-neuron perceptron (Nand2Tetris, free).
Research deliverable.
A filmed and written build record (materials, steps, mistakes, time, cost) for the Foundation’s “Codex of Making,” so the skill survives.
Safety.
Eye protection; low voltage only; no metal casting or open flame in this course (those are shop-supervised, adults-only, and need local fire-authority permission).
Scholarships for kits are based on need, merit, portfolio and service, never on photos or looks. All courses.