The Dynamic Microsystems Lab had the pleasure of hosting high school students during this year’s Camp Connect Advanced program, a week-long STEM outreach initiative organized by UCF’s Initiatives in STEM (iSTEM) Office. Led by our ECE undergraduates under the guidance of Dr. Justin Phelps, the program ran from July 9–13 and focused on giving 10th and 11th grade students hands-on exposure to electrical engineering concepts.
With a cohort of 8 students, our goal was to guide them in applying ECE principles to build their very own mini Tesla Coil—while learning about circuits, lab safety and equipment, undergraduate research, and engineering disciplines along the way.
We’d like to sincerely thank our host, the iSTEM Office, and especially Renee Johnson, K–12 Programs Manager, for her constant support and coordination.
Day 1: Intro to DML + Lab Tours + Circuit Analysis Fundamentals
The week began with lab tours and presentations led by Kat, Ryan, and Toshi, introducing students to MEMS, piezoelectric materials, and resonators. The group visited DML’s cleanrooms and research spaces, gaining insight into undergraduate research at UCF.
Students then learned fundamental circuit concepts including current, voltage, Ohm’s Law, Kirchhoff’s Laws, power, and independent sources, preparing them for deeper work throughout the week.
Day 2: Pickle Experiment + Breadboarding Workshop
To reinforce circuit theory with real-world effects, Dr. Phelps demonstrated the Pickle Experiment, visually showing Ohm’s Law in action. The day also featured problem-solving sessions focused on series vs. parallel circuits.
Later, Madison led a breadboarding workshop, where students learned how to design circuits using breadboards, multimeters, and DC power supplies.
Toshi and Kat gave a talk on the differences between electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science, helping students understand the broader engineering landscape and how their interests might align.
Day 3: Soldering Workshop + LED Time Delay Circuit
Ryan led students through a soldering workshop at UCF’s Texas Instruments Lab, where they practiced technique, learned safety protocols, and explored the chemistry of flux.
Each student then built and tested their own LED time delay circuit after transferring designs from breadboards to protoboards.
Day 4: Tesla Coil Build + Analysis
Equipped with strong foundations in circuit design and fabrication, the students spent Day 4 building their own mini Tesla coils. With support from Ryan, Toshi, and Kat, they assembled, soldered, and tested their devices – an exciting culmination of their week’s learning.
Day 5: Final Presentations & Professional Skills
To wrap up the week, students attended sessions on resume-building, LinkedIn profiles (led by Kat), and public speaking skills (led by Madison). They then presented what they had learned to faculty, peers, parents, and staff – showcasing both their technical and communication growth.
DML had a great time working with these students and watching their skills and confidence grow over the course of just one week. We’re especially proud of our ECE undergraduates, whose energy, planning, and mentorship made this program such a success.
We look forward to continuing our STEM outreach efforts and inspiring the next generation of engineers.