Toy Hacking: Preliminary Results in Creative Electronic Workshops for Informal Science Education

This paper introduces an ongoing research project on the use of electronics workshops in engaging underprivileged Latino middle and high school students in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The project focuses on the practice of circuit bending – taking apart and creatively manipulating the circuits of children's toys to produce novel sound output. The main goal of the project is to design, develop and test curricula and materials that inspire learning in adolescents. Second hand, discarded or low cost electronics are used in the workshops as a low cost platform for informal science education. We implement creativity and music to engage youth in STEM, and believe artistic-based approaches are effective in informal science education.