Arduino Coding Part 1: LEDs, Servos, Buttons, Buzzers, and More

Do you like to invent things?   In this class you will learn the basics of Arduino coding and how to use buttons, servos, speakers, and potentiometers to make exciting projects that light up, make sounds, and move.

The classes are taught using a blend of lecture, discussion and modeling.   I will demonstrate how to complete the wiring and coding through an Arduino simulation program called TinkerCad.  You will follow along on your own TinkerCad account or using an actual Arduino microcontroller and the Arduino IDE program.  Through a series of small challenges, you will learn the basics of coding and wiring. This course will prepare you for more advanced courses that will teach you how to use sensors and actuators to create your own inventions.

This class is for beginner coders.  You do not need to have any prior coding skills.  

IMPORTANT:  If you are using an actual Arduino, you will need to have access to a computer and not just a chromebook or tablet because the Arduino IDE does NOT work on those devices.

If you don't see a time that works for you, please contact me and I will try to schedule a class meets your needs.  This class can meet once a week instead of twice a week in case that is better for you. Some sections are once a week for ten weeks and some are twice a week for five weeks.

Below is a syllabus for this class:

Arduino Coding Part 1:  LEDs, and Circuits

Class 1: Arduino Microcontroller, sketches and Blink
a.	Parts of the board
b.	Uses
c.	Open source
d.	Input and output definitions and examples
e.	TinkerCad
f.	INPUT and OUPUT
g.	Void setup
h.	Void loop
i.	Comments (short and long)
j.	Syntax - importance of Spelling and grammar 
k.	pinMode (INPUT vs OUTPUT)
l.	digitalWrite (pin number and HIGH vs LOW)
m.	delay (microseconds, milliseconds, seconds…)
n.	modifiying blink to do change blink frequency
o.	persistence of vision – determine minimum delay needed to see the blinking

Class 2: Breadboard, Circuits and Traffic Light
a.	how to use a breadboard - Which holes are connected
b.	What is a complete circuit (5V, ground)
c.	Resistors and why they are needed
d.	Creating series circuit (no arduino, just battery)
e.	Why we use parallel circuits rather than series for home wiring and Arduinos
f.	Creating parallel circuit (no arduino, just battery)  
b.	Making a traffic light

Class 3: Variables and functions 
a.	Why they are useful
b.	Rules for variable names
c.	Types of variables
d.	Use of functions without passing variables
e.	Use of functions passing variables
f.	Serial.begin(9600); command
g. 	Serial.print, Serial.println, with and without quotation marks

Class 4: RGB LEDs
a.	Connecting an RGB LED
b.	Turning on the Red, Blue and Green LED lights
c.	Programming an RGB LED with functions, comments
d.	analogWrite command
e.	Function to control color

Class 5: More about Serial Monitor
a.	Uses for debugging purposes
b.	Types of errors
c.	Syntactic errors  (rules of coding: spelling or format is wrong)
d.	Structural errors (logic is wrong – it does the wrong thing)
e.	How to open the serial monitor
f.	Use the Serial Monitor with blink to say on and off
g.	For command to call the blink program
h.	Serial.read for reading integers, float or strings.
i.	Using the input to control leds or color of RGB LED

Class 6:  Using a potentiometer 
a.	Without code
b.	With code – understand voltage dividers
c.     If/Else commands
d.     While commands
e.     Using comparisons (less than, greater than, equal to..., not equal to)
c.	Use map command to control the brightness of a bulb

Class 7:  Servos 
a.	How to use a library 
b.	Servo commands
c.	Sweep program
d.	Moving a servo with potentiometer – using the map command

Class 8:  Buttons
a.	Make a circuit with a button.
b.	What does a button do? 
c.	Discuss button debounce and function for debouncing
d.	Using switch command to control LED with button press

Class 9: Passive Buzzer and tone
a.	How to make sound 
b.	Pitches library
c.	Tone command
d.	How to play a song using an array

Class 10: Combining devices
  a.    Small projects to combine button with LED or buzzer or servo