I'm afraid that was my intent, for the first class or two at least, although breadboarding and such-like is not out of the question.

A small group would be better; the model I'm looking at would be 3-4 people at a table, with lots of question and answer, and me with a short list of topics I want to cover. I want to sketch some stuff on the whiteboard, and I want to show some things on my oscilloscope. Now, all that said, I DO want to move to some demonstrations/lab work/hands on stuff in a later class, but for the first one or two, where we are mostly concerned with Ohm's law, AC versus DC, Kirchoff's laws, etc., any demonstration is likely to be pretty bland.

But, when we get to op-amps, transistors, diode, and all that jazz, breadboards are a necessity.

Well I hadn't thought of breadboards, duh... that'd eliminate the need to solder, for a while. So yeah, library or clean basement, sure. I could even host that. I don't have a whiteboard, but I do have a home-theater projector connected to a PC. And, well, folks would have to either not be allergic to cats, or fortify themselves with appropriate allergy meds. (We have three cats and a rabbit. Two of these are very friendly.)

really groking how ac and dc work, fundamental wave forms, and examples like how amps and watts etc compare to say psi and pipe diameter in plumbing can probably be an afternoon. and provide a healthy understanding of dangers and concepts

Heh yeah. Pat should bring his transformer autopsy.

I think that's a very nice idea for a class. I also definitely agree with the separation of fundamental electronics and soldering things, two very different tasks. I guess I'm not strictly in the 'pupil' demographic, finishing up my CompE degree, but I'd love to help out.

I think this would be a great starter to use Studio Bricolage, If I understand this is exactly what Steve would like to see happening.

I think perhaps I should contact Steve at SB and see if he'd like to involve them in this- It's their kind of thing, I think.

Makes it easier to use their space.

Lots of tutors would be a good thing (for me anyway).

i would totally go if we can get the schedules to work! one of the myriad reasons why i joined the group is because i know nothing about electronics but want to tackle some basic projects.

great idea, mike!

im down for a refresher course.

i do agree with Theo that most of us are "hands on" kinda people. a literal example would work better.
(for me at least)