Sunstep - Electricity

In 2003 the Western Cape subject advisors embraced the training programme and 17 of the 20 advisors attended a workshop in both Electricity and Electronics. The new section on Electricity has definitely enriched the SUNSTEP programme tremendously. SUNSTEP has also presented learner workshops together with Escom and the E & E Engineering Department, on Safety in Electricity, a demonstration on careers as well as the building of a motor.

Before starting with current in a circuit, a baseline assessment to establish what the learners already know is done. By looking back and teaching the electric current, using analogies, comparisons and giving reference material, the learners gradually get to the point where one can start with assembling a series and parallel electrical circuit.

Once the circuit is completed, it is followed by learning activities to test the circuit and investigate the series circuit and conductivity. More enabling activities will keep the learners busy for a term of eight weeks. They must be able to draw block diagrams and understand the systems diagram.

Keeping this in mind, our training sessions try to give clear answers to this secretive form of energy. Questions that are addressed, include:

What is electricity?
How is an electrical current produced?
How is an electrical current conducted?
How is an electrical current used?
What does AC mean?
What does DC mean?
How do we control electricity? (Insulators, generators, alternators)
What are switches?

We answer all these questions and more during our training sessions, allowing educators and learners to enter the world of electricity with far more confidence and knowledge than before.

We are confident that our programme will help any person to understand electricity a lot better, and in so doing they will hopefully have an even greater appreciation and understanding for, and interest in, Electronics and Technology in general.

Electrical Series /Parallel kit Outcomes: Knowledge/Concepts

That the learner knows and understands:

How an In series/parallel circuit works,
How to draw a circuit diagram;
How to draw a system diagram;
How switches work;
The names of the electric components used;
The symbols used for the electric components;
When does one use an in series circuit and when does one use a parallel circuit;
The advantages of each
Everyday life situations where one will find the parallel and in series circuits.
In a series circuit, the same current flows through all of the series connected components.
In a parallel circuit, the same voltage is applied to all of the parallel-connected components.
Safety in electricity

The Grade 8 AND/ OR switching conditions

Learners will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how electrical circuits with more than one input or control device will work based on different logic conditions (AND and OR logic) and will represent them using circuit diagrams, system diagrams and truth tables.

The motor