Prepare your students for more complex topics by starting with an exploration of the history and evolution of electronics. Look back in time at important milestones in the development of electronics. You can study specific eras, such as the early 20th century, when the electron tube was invented, or the late 1940s, when smaller transistors where designed by American physicists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley. Focus on more recent events of the 1980s, when very large-scale integration circuits were developed, allowing placement of more than 100,000 transistors on a single chip.
We use many devices in our everyday lives that function with a electronic chip or that are built using electronics principles. Examples include microcomputers, medical equipment, microwave ovens, televisions, radio, sound recording equipment and X-ray tubes. Ask your students to do a project that allows them to understand how electronics have helped each of these devices become more efficient in the last few years. You could also challenge students to try to come up with new uses of electronics and to create a new device as a final product.
The evolution of computers' size and functionality is largely due to the miniscule size and great power of electronic chips and related devices. During the 1970s, electronics were used to transform digital electronics and change our lives by simplifying difficult tasks. Interesting topics for your students in regards to digital electronics is the research on new and upcoming electronic devices that will allow us to have more efficient digital tools and products. You can also ask your students to create their own digital product using an electronic chip or to find companies that produce electronics and see what portion of their work is focused on electronic research and development.
Finally, you can help your students understand possible careers in electronics as a project topic. Focus on a general area, such as audio and video, or focus on a specific profession, such as an electronic service technician. The possible careers in electronics are varied, and choosing a topic to focus on might be a challenge for students. Another option is to explore the specific skills and abilities that are preferred among employers who hire specialists in electronics or that help electronic specialists be more efficient and improve their overall job performance. This project topic can guide students who have a great interest in electronics to choose a career that suits them.