Well there is a pretty good thread Dakota started here, http://quelab.net/wordpress/forums/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=120 can probably be mined for topics.

Teaching what we know works best.. so here are a few classes im going to do.

1, Long exposure Pinhole cameras, (everyone gets to make a camera, and take home some blueprint paper. class will cover camera construction / loading / exposure time/ developing with simple household chemicals.

2, Locksport, all about locks, what is going on inside, how picking works, how rekeying works. and some about lock types.

more as I come up with them.

I got this kind of out of the blue, but it fits! it is part of an existing Space Federation discussion:

https://atrium.schoolfactory.org/spacefed/learning

Greetings mr_bandit,
Comment by Jerry Isdale: Ok, I was just turned on to

Ok, I was just turned on to another NSF grant that is ripe for Makespaces ...

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf12597 [1]

[bandit: This is roughly $1Mill per grant. We would need to get folks like RoboRave and Ask Academy involved, perhaps NMT or UNM folks too. There needs to be a PI (primary investigator).]

Program Title: Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers
(ITEST) Synopsis of Program: ITEST supports the research and
development of innovative models for engaging K-12 students in authentic
experiences that build their capacity to participate in the science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and
communications technology (ICT) workforce of the future. ITEST projects must include students and may include teachers.

My idea is to submit a 2 year plan to develop an open source makerspace based STEAM program that could be taught in a school or as an afterschool program (eg maker scout). It would focus on hands on projects in Maker type STEAM tech (electronics, arduinos, 3d printing, programming) with some practical applications (eg garden/greenhouse control). First 3-6mo would be developing the curriculum with a small group of kids & projects (expecting changes enroute). Then it would scale up to larger group over longer period or several distributed groups (i.e. at several Space Federation spaces). And wrap up with evaluations and plans to pass it out to rest of the world as free and open courseware... perhaps with teacher training seminars at Space Federation Spaces that could bring some $ back to the spaces. Primary costs would be a) salaries b) equipment/space rental c) materials/supplies d) overhead (legal/accounting, etc). I'm a bit committed on projects now, but would LOVE to see this get going... kinda like that O'Reilly/MAKE are doing with DARPA $$ but on a smaller scale and intended for existing spaces (rather than buying all new equipment, etc). A Letter of Intent is due by Sept 20. Anyone want to collaborate?
Read more http://atrium.schoolfactory.org/learning#comment-4901

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Greetings mr_bandit,
Comment by ΩMEGA: Jerry, I can already tell you

Jerry, I can already tell you we're interested.

We're just about halfway through our "OlyMEGA Summer Sessions", a 12-week series of classes on Programming, Robotics, and Radio. We've just assembled our robot chassis, which was designed by one of our members, and lasercut at a local shop. Once we give the little guys some smarts, we're going to add remote control and IR sender/receivers, and finish off the class with a big game of robot laser tag

A lot of the original thinking that went into these classes centered around establishing ourselves as an alternative or supplementary venue for students to learn about science and technology.

We're also waiting to hear back on the possibility of being able to inhabit a MUCH larger (~8000sqft) former church-turned-music-studio that has been abandoned for about 5 years. If that pans out, we'll have plenty of space to conduct classes (our max headcount is about 8 right now in the 14x14 classroom area) but we'll also have some serious renovations on our hands.

Pursuing grants in order to establish ongoing educational programs at the space is definitely something we've discussed, but haven't actively gone after any yet - to be honest, the effort of organizing the classes had a lot to do with that! Fortunately I was "programming guy" and my module is done for now

This looks really tailor made, like you said, for existing spaces to use to expand their programs into more structured education - exactly where we wanna go.

I don't personally know a thing about grant writing. I know at least a couple members have mentioned in the past that they have some experience with it. Do you or any of your members have experience? I'm certainly interested in learning about the process, but it seems like one fraught with mis-steps, so I'd rather leave it to those who know better

I'll forward this on to some of the other organizer-types in the group, who aren't on the atrium. We're having a big org meeting on the 30th, which will make it a good time to bring it to everyone's attention.

Read more http://atrium.schoolfactory.org/learning#comment-4902

We recently got a donation of a box of Altoids tins. I'm trying to come up with something that would be cool to make with them. I'm leaning towards the bike headlight, but there are a few other that look cool as well.

I just started school at CNM toward an Engineering degree. I now have time available to come by on Hackernights. i will have to pay the 5 dollar fee until i can afford the monthly subscription fee.