Why I started

Hello there. A little introduction before I start.

My background is in mechanical engineering, but I hardly practiced it in reality (as in design or mechanical aspects of it). After graduating from Cal, I went to work for Bechtel as a project controls engineer (project management, heavy emphasis on cost and schedule). I worked on many interesting projects - nuclear power projects, coal power projects, environmental clean-up projects, shrimp farms, a Saudi City, etc. When I moved to the semiconductor industry, I worked as a project engineer, program/project manager, and product marketing manager.

Once I had children, I became more interested in finding ways to challenge and engage them in learning. My children were very curious (they still are), and even as toddlers. I used to give them household stuff to keep them occupied while I was busy making dinner, etc. During this time, I was often surprised at how much I had underestimated what they could understand and accomplish.

When my first child started 1st grade, I decided to conduct science projects in his class every week. In kindergarten, I volunteered to help with art projects and read Korean fairy tales to the students. Now, it wasn't "science" every week. I've taught the students the Korean alphabet, some keywords, how to write their names and a few basic phrases. Other times, it was a more craft-orientated project, constructing an origami box.

In the beginning (~2007 and 2008), I searched the web for projects I could easily do in a classroom setting. I wanted to print out instructions and take them into the classroom with little outside trouble-shooting time. But I was surprised that I couldn't find projects like that on the web. 

I volunteered my time with the Engineer's Week while I was at Bechtel, and I knew some projects were fun to do, and the students learned a lot from each time. So, I started with the two projects I had used - Marshmallow structures and the paper column project. Then I kept adding on, initially with project variations but with some new and fantastic ones (like Strawkets). 

I've noticed that there are a lot of science websites and blogs online, and I'll share what I thought were some of the best ones later. What's unique about my projects is that the supplies are inexpensive and readily available almost anywhere around the world. My goal is to make science and math fun for every child, but more importantly, I want to nurture their natural sense of curiosity and encourage their love of learning.

I begin every class by talking about or asking students to define the three words I love - Curiosity, Creativity, and Perseverance. Then I ask them to push their creative envelope and Fail Spectacularly! 

Fail Spectacularly is the motto for many of my more challenging projects. 

So, let's fail spectacularly together and learn!