# Technology Instruction with Charlie Larrabee

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-01-10
- Length: 1h 14m
- Episode: 572
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/572-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee/

## Summary

Charlie Larrabee, the lab guru at DaVinci Lab for Creative Arts and Sciences, discusses teaching electronics and technology to children aged 6 to 14. He details the shift from traditional Radio Shack kits to modern platforms like Circuit Playground Express and micro:bit, and explains how he uses tools like code.org and physical demonstrations with a Wimshurst generator to make abstract concepts tangible. Larrabee also shares his personal journey into electronics, his hobbyist work with vacuum tubes and JFETs, and his advice for parents on fostering creativity and resilience in young learners.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee#t=0) Introduction and Early Electronics Inspiration
- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee#t=0) Teaching Electronics to Kids: Tools and Platforms
- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee#t=0) Adapting Curriculum for Different Age Groups
- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee#t=0) Teaching Coding and Debugging to Young Students
- [23:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee#t=1427) Hardware, Sensors, and Real-World Connections
- [23:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee#t=1427) Ham Radio, Vacuum Tubes, and JFET Amplifiers
- [23:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-10-technology-instruction-with-charlie-larrabee#t=1427) Building Resilience and Confidence in Learners

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- DaVinci Lab for Creative Arts and Sciences (company)
- Radio Shack (company)
- Circuit Playground Express (product)
- Adafruit (company)
- micro:bit (product)
- code.org (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Wimshurst generator (tool)
- Olimex (company)
- CircuitPython (product)
- QRZ.com (company)
- larabielabs.com (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [7: Lights, Camera, Electrons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-26-7-lights-camera-electrons) (Embedded.fm)
- [261: Blowing Their Fragile Little Minds](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-21-261-blowing-their-fragile-little-minds) (Embedded.fm)
- [372: The Motivation of Creativity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity) (Embedded.fm)
- [392: It Was C++ the Whole Time!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-11-04-392-it-was-c-the-whole-time) (Embedded.fm)
- [89: I Have New Batteries](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-02-18-89-i-have-new-batteries) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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