Amateur Radio and Flying
Dedication
This page is dedicated to the Amateur Radio operators who advanced the frontiers of Radio Science and have provided invaluable emergency communications that has saved thousands of lives.
Teaching Amateur Radio
For eight years, it was my privilege to teach amateur radio classes for the youth of the Ector County Independent School District, two years at Travis Elementary Math and Science Magnet School, and six years at Bowie Jr. High. I taught two enjoyable summer sessions for the Gale Pond Elementary School. I hope this page will encourage young people to take up this fantastic hobby for their enjoyment and to enhance their knowledge of physics and radio communications. The students also learned to copy Morse Code. I should especially like to recognize Mr. Pete Shugar who has assisted me as Chief Engineer for the Ector County ISD Amateur Radio Program. Mr. Shugar has excellent knowledge of radio science. He is the master of fun scientific experiments. His experimenter's table at our classes was the center of much hands-on learning activities.
Find Our More about Amateur Radio
Anyone interested in radio communications will want to check out
the ARRL web site at: ARRL
This site has all the information you need to get started in this exciting hobby.
Morse Code
My favorite mode of communications is Morse Code. The best way to learn it is with the Koch Method. I believe educators will find the principles of this method applicable to many different subjects, wherever automated, procedural processing skills are important. Here is the web site. Koch Method In fact, the some of the very first experiments in cognitive psychology involved the study of how students learned Morse Code. I can copy 20 Words Per Minute. To copy code at this speed requires total automation of the process. I know several operators in our ham club who can copy code while engaged in conversation, reading a book or watching TV. Here is the best computer CW trainer I have ever used: g4fon Koch Method CW Trainer.
The web site for my Ham radio club is West Texas Amateur Radio Club.
Flying
I learned about Amateur Radio when I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in High School. I have always had a love for flying, and even took ground school in 1974, but was unable to realize my dream of becoming a pilot at that time. My son-in-law, James Martin, is a private pilot. Flying from time to time with him has rekindled my desire to get my own pilots license. He even owns his own airplane, which is used as a trainer by FLIGHTSOURCE.COM.
When I was a teenager, I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. It was a great organization dedicated to character development of youth and to aeronautical education. It was there that I learned about amateur radio. One student who was in my Bowie Junior High Amateur Radio Class became a member of CAP and learned to fly. He is now a commercial pilot! I highly recommend this organization. You learn more about them at: Civil Air Patrol.