-SandhiyaBala, Pratap, Sivaguru, Ajay I, Tamil, Preethi P, Kethsiyaal and Kugan
Hands-on Learning with C3STREAM Land Design at AIAT Campus
C3STREAM Land Design organized an exciting Electronics Workshop at the AIAT Campus this summer. It was one of three hands-on workshops offered during the summer of 2025. Each workshop had 30 participants, and sessions were conducted in English, with Tamil language support where needed.
The workshop ran for five days, from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM. It was completely free and open to participants aged 13 years and above. Upon completion, every learner received a Certificate. The only requirement was a basic understanding of mathematics, like simple calculations.
Before we began each daily session of the Electronics Workshop – 2025, we practiced Radical Transformational Leadership (RTL) tools. These tools helped us become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and supported us in living our core values like courage, care, responsibility, and curiosity.
This practice helped us come to the sessions with a clear mind, an open heart, and a strong intention to learn. It was a powerful way to start the day—not just for learning electronics, but also for growing as individuals.
RTL tools reminded us that learning is not just about knowledge, but also about becoming the best version of ourselves.
Day 1: Understanding the Basics
We started by discussing why electronics might feel difficult and how to learning them. We learned key concepts such as:
- Charge (Ah)
- Voltage (V)
- Current (I)
- Power (VA)
- Energy (VAh)
To make it easier to understand, we used a water analogy. For example, we compared the charge to the amount of water, and the voltage to water pressure. We also explored how to check the current of a mobile battery using its capacity.
Day 2: Tools and Measurement
We recall previous session topics, electronics, and chose to learn with interest. We were introduced to the multimeter, a tool that helps measure:
- Resistance
- Voltage
- Connectivity
We even measured our body resistance, first without and then with conducting gel. We used a fun device called Makey Makey to explore conductivity and also began learning about LEDs.
Day 3: Building Simple Circuits
We continued learning about LEDs and how to connect them with resistors. We built circuits using LEDs in series and parallel. Then, we practiced soldering and desoldering—skills needed to work with real electronic components.
Day 4: Components and Circuits
We learned about:
- Voltage sources
- NPN Transistors
- Diodes
Then, we built a circuit using a transistor and LED. We also built a charger circuit on a breadboard using a 9V transformer, diodes, a capacitor, and a LM7805 voltage regulator IC. We were introduced to Every Circuit, a website where we can design and simulate circuits.
Day 5: Big Picture Thinking
We explored the difference between AC and DC, and learned about AC RMS voltages like 230V and 440V. Then, we built the charger circuit again to better understand how each component works together.
By the end of the workshop, many of us who once feared electronics gained confidence and a clearer understanding of how electronic systems work. We built real circuits, used real tools, and had real fun!
This hands-on workshop helped us realize that learning electronics is not only possible, but also exciting and empowering.
Here are the reflections from our organizing team members,
Sivaguruprasath:
My name is Sivaguruprasath, and I stand for Courage, full potential, and equanimity for myself and others. While guiding the children on the team, I noticed that I am responsible for their growth and learned to be consistent and perseverance.
SandhiyaBala:
My name is SandhiyaBala, and I stand for courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I learnt many things from the participants. I have learnt real-life theory and experimented with those things in the workshop. Making circuits for a mobile charger, soldering, and desoldering the PCB board.
Kethsiyaal:
My name is Kethsiyaal, I stand for kindness and courage for myself and others. During the electronics workshop, I had the valuable opportunity to support children in learning the fundamentals of electronics. This experience was both enriching and refreshing, as it allowed me to engage with electronics. As a team, we built a cell phone charger. I guided the children in identifying components like resistors, capacitors, diodes, and voltage regulators, while also encouraging them to ask questions and experiment safely. This experience was how it helped me recall and apply my foundational knowledge in basic electronics.
Tamil:
My name is Tamil. I stand for courage and compassion for myself and others.
In the electronics workshop, I learned how to make a mobile charger. It made me feel curious and excited to learn more. First, I learned about the different parts used in a charger, like diodes, capacitors, transformers, and the IC. I understood how each part works and how they all connect together to make the charger function.
I also learned how to solder and desolder, which are important skills in electronics. Using tools like the analyzer and oscilloscope helped me see how the circuit works in real time. These hands-on activities helped me understand the subject better than just reading from a book. The best part was when we finished building the charger and tested it by charging a mobile phone — and it worked! That moment made me feel very proud, confident, and excited to learn even more in the future. This workshop showed me that I can build useful things with my own hands, and it made me more interested in electronics.
Ajay:
My name is Ajay, and I am passionate about fostering self-awareness in myself and others. While preparing for a workshop, I learned new skills, including soldering and desoldering components, as well as the basics of electronics, such as using a multimeter, function generator, and oscilloscope. I applied these skills to build my mobile charger using a bridge rectifier. During the workshop, I shared my knowledge with others, helping them understand circuits.
Preethi P:
My name is Preethi P. I stand for courage and happiness for myself and others. In the electronic workshop, I learnt about basic electronic concepts like voltage, current, power, energy, LED, resistor/resistance, capacitor, and how to find the amount of current the app is being used. How to use a multimeter, soldering, and desoldering. while doing soldering, the children were engaged and enthusiastic. We build chargers at the end of the workshop. This work gave me a lot of basics about electronics and how to handle children.
Kugan:
My name is Kugan I stand equality for my self and others. the sessions were engaging and provided valuable insights. The students displayed a keen interest and actively participated in discussions, which enriched the learning experience for everyone involved.
