10/18/2024

The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology[1] wrapped up up its final
cohort for 2024. Eight educators from across the country gathered at ARRL
Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, last week to learn how to incorporate
radio technology into their lessons. Eighty-five educators have gotten hands-on
with radio technology through the program in 2024.

On Thursday, October 10, as Hurricane Milton's remnants continued to roar
across Florida, the group decoded GOES satellite images of the storm. As the
decoded signals were converted to images, there were exclamations of amazement
in the conference room that serves as the training center. "Wow!" said several
teachers, almost in unison.

Lisa Werner, KE8BMR, of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, earned her Technician Class
license during the week at TI. Experiences like the weather satellite decode
opened her eyes to the broad possibilities of amateur radio. "I learned all the
different things that can be done in ham radio. I thought it was just talking
on the radio before coming to TI," she said.

Radio is central to TI, but the goal isn't just to create more hams. "It really
is about getting radio and radio technology back into the front of mind for
students," said ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA.

By incorporating radio into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) lessons, the importance of radio communications in all aspects of modern
and future life is demonstrated for the generation that could take humans to
Mars and beyond.

"We're excited for the future, and especially for the future of the ARRL
Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology," said Goodgame. "2025 will be a
strong year of growth for the program. We've continued to improve on our strong
foundation and groups like this cohort give us a lot of energy to look
forward."

The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is funded entirely by
donations to the ARRL Education & Technology Fund[2]. In the last three years,
175 educators have attended TI. There are 7 cohorts of the program in 2024, and
the goal is to scale it to 16 for 2025, including taking the institute "on the
road" to different cities around the country.


[1] http://www.arrl.org/ti

[2] http://www.arrl.org/givetostem


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