Unlocking the Arduino: Foundations of Programming
Develop a strong foundation for computer science and electrical engineering with some great introductory projects for the Arduino
Ian Nelson
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:(2,521)
What's included
8 live meetings
6 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursHomework
Students may have occasional homework to troubleshoot their progress on a particular project.Assessment
This course uses authentic assessment where learners demonstrate that their circuit meets project goals.Class Experience
Roll up your sleeves and discover electrical engineering in this class! We actively work together to design, build, and code projects using the Arduino.
The teacher will model the engineering design process by setting project goals with students before building the circuit and writing the code. Students will gain experience with "Comment First" coding, identifying how to make their projects come to life. We will actively incorporate circuit elements such as LEDs, buttons, and potentiometers to see what these components can do.
Students will discover how to:
- Plan circuits using appropriate inputs and outputs
- Prototype circuits on a breadboard
- Identify critical programming variables
- Incorporate logical controls using appropriate programming syntax
- Read programming written for Arduino
- Troubleshoot their Arduino projects
Our class time is an active building environment where we work on writing code and building circuits together. To get the most out of our time together, students should bring an Arduino Starter Kit to every class and join our class from a computer with the Arduino IDE program installed. The Arduino IDE is a script-based programming interface where learners should be comfortable navigating the keyboard and typing characters such as (, ), {, }, /, and ;.
Class topics are as follows:
- Week 1: Build a circuit using a breadboard
- Week 2: Use the Arduino to make LEDs blink
- Week 3: Explore variables and loops
- Week 4: Experiment with using the Arduino to control outputs
- Week 5: Introduction to circuit inputs
- Week 6: Use buttons and dials
- Weeks 7 and 8: Student-determined class projectLearning Goals
Students will grow in their ability to:
- Articulate goals for electrical engineering projects
- Identify electronic components used in electrical projects
- Build and troubleshoot circuits on breadboards
- Compose and troubleshoot programs using the Arduino
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Mounting circuit components on a breadboard and typing lines of code require considerable attention to detail. Your learner may benefit from an adult sitting next to them during class, particularly as it relates to putting the components in the breadboard. The Arduino IDE is a script-based programming interface where learners should be comfortable navigating the keyboard and typing characters such as (, ), {, }, /, and ;. Students who rely on slow "Hunt and peck" keyboarding skills would do better in my four week class called "BLINK! An Introduction to Programming with Arduino."
Supply List
Students will need an Arduino Starter Kit that includes resistors, LEDs, buttons, and potentiometers. I recommend the following kits. Arduino Starter Kit (available at https://store.arduino.cc/usa/arduino-starter-kit for $110) ELEGOO UNO Starter Kit (available on Amazon for under $50) SparkFun Inventor's Kit for Arduino Uno v4.0 (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14418 for $118) Because Arduino is an open source platform, you can find many versions of Starter Kits across a wide range of price points. You want to ensure that any kit purchased for this course has the Arduino UNO board, a circuit breadboard, jumper wires, resistors, LEDs, buttons, and potentiometers. The Arduino software is free for learners using Mac and PC computers. Students using Chromebooks will need to use the Arduino Create App which is free for 30 days and then costs $1/month.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined October, 2017
4.7
2521reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
As a mechanical engineer and engineering educator, I love the challenge of helping students bring their ideas to life. Unlocking the Arduino offers an excellent opportunity for students to say, "I want to design a circuit that can do x, y, and z" while gaining the skills to make that happen.Reviews
Live Group Class
$144
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
50 min
Completed by 75 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
2-8 learners per class
