INTRODUCTION:
In this 12-week flex class, students will learn how to use a wide variety of digital and analog sensors to code an Arduino Uno to create inventions and projects.
This class will build on the foundation that students gained from my introductory Arduino coding class. A brief review of the Arduino board as well as some of the sensors covered in Part 1. These include photoresistors, thermistors, buttons, and servos.

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.

Each week, students learn about a different component culminating in a final project that students will create and share with the class.  Students will learn how to hook up and code the following sensors: water level sensor, sound sensor, pressure and flex sensors (not found in kits but have similar wiring and coding), rotary encoder, joystick, remote control, keypad, DHT-11 (temperature and humidity), RTC (real time clock), RFID reader, and accelerometer/gyroscope module.  In addition, students will learn how to use the serial monitor as a sensor for input, and how to make and use a capacitive touch sensor. Students will also learn how to download and properly install Arduino Libraries that are needed for some of the sensors.


FORMAT OF THE LESSONS:
Every Sunday, a new lesson will be posted in the classroom on Outschool.  Each lesson begins with a recorded video that is uploaded to the classroom in Outschool.  A combination of the Arduino IDE and TinkerCad are used to teach the lessons in the videos.  Provided in the video are detailed explanations of how to connect the devices to the Arduino and how to write code to read the sensors.  A link to Arduino libraries will be uploaded to the Classroom page so that students will be able to locate and download the libraries for their use.

Depending on the number of students and the various time zones involved, live Zoom classes may be scheduled to provide assistance or to share final projects with the class.

Each video begins with a short PowerPoint presentation that explains the basic principles.  This is followed by a detailed guided demonstration that shows how to connect the components and the code used to control them.  Each student is expected to actively participate by following the directions described in the lesson using their components and the Arduino software and or using the simulation on TinkerCad.   It may be helpful to have separate devices: one for watching the video and a computer to try out the lessons. This will make it easier to follow along with the lessons.

Each week, an activity worksheet will be posted in the classroom that describes the objectives of the lesson, any libraries needed for the device, and a list of activities to try. Students will have one week to complete the activities and are required to share their results and participate in the classroom discussions as described below.


STUDENT INTERACTIONS:

Students are expected to interact with each other and with the teacher every week within the framework of the Outschool Classroom site.   Students will be required to use discussion forum to post responses to worksheet questions, upload code for worksheet assignments, and share videos of weekly project assignments. 

During the first week of the class, students will be required to post a video or a paragraph introducing themselves and stating what they hope to learn.  Every week thereafter, there will be post describing the interactions required for that week's lesson. These instructions will be provided on a worksheet as well as posted in the discussion forum.  Interactions will include prompts for discussion, games, contests,  surveys, sharing work, and posting videos of projects. 

Students will receive weekly feedback from me about their responses, code, videos and comments. I will provide help and encouragement as students become proficient in their coding skills.  Students who feel they need additional assistance can request a live meeting with me and I will be happy to try to arrange it.


Some interactions will begin as a prompt posted in the classroom. These prompts will be used to initiate discussion, reinforce concepts and assess knowledge. For example, I may post a prompt, such as “Name one digital sensors and one analog sensor.”  Other promts will include brainstorming activities, games or surveys.  For example, I may ask students to list a device they encountered during the week that contains a sensor and identify the sensor. An interactive game that will be used is "I'm thinking of a device" whereby each student must submit the name of a device that meets the criteria.  For example, "I'm thinking of a device that uses an accelerometer." The first student that responds correctly gets to write the next “I’m thinking of a device” question.  

During the last week of the class, students will share their final projects with the class.  Students will post their final project code and a video explaining their project, how it works, and the challenges they encountered.  Students will be required to provide feedback to two of the other students about their final projects.  If it can be arranged, a live class will be scheduled so that students can share their projects in real time.

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE:
Students should either have completed Arduino Coding Part I or have basic knowledge of the skills taught in that class.  They should know how to wire and code the following devices: LED, RGB LED, serial monitor, ultrasonic sensor, servo, photoresistor, thermistor, button, potentiometer.  They should have basic knowledge of the Arduino coding syntax and be able to use simple “if/else,” “while,” and “for” loops. 

Students need to have an Arduino Uno or Arduino Mega for this class, as well as the sensors that will be taught.  Please see the recommended materials and kits listed in the " Supply List" shown below.

LESSONS:
Class 1: What are sensors?
-	Purpose of sensors
-	Types of sensors (photoresistor, thermistor, ultrasonic sensor, motion sensor, etc)
-	Analog and Digital Sensors
- 	How to use serial monitor for output to see values of sensors
- 	Using the serial monitor as a sensor for input 

Class 2:  Simple Digital Sensors
-	Button
-	Switch
-	tilt sensor
-	PIR Motion Sensor (HC-SR501)
-	soil moisture (may not be in kit but discussed anyway because it works the same way)
-	flame sensor (may not be in kit but discussed anyway because it works the same way)
-	magnet hall (may not be in kits but discussed anyway because it works the same way)

Class 3: Simple Analog Sensors
- 	Photoresistor
- 	thermistor
-	potentiometer
-	water level sensor
-	sound sensor
-	pressure and flex sensor (not in kit – use tinkercad)

Class 4: Rotary encoder vs potentiometer

Class 5: Joystick

Class 6:  Libraries and Capacitive Touch Sensor (not in kit)
-	How to find libraries and how to install them in Arduino IDE
-	How to make your own
-	How to write code

Class 7:  DHT-11 (digital humidity and temperature module)  

Class 8: Keypad 

Class 9: Remote Control and IR receiver

Class 10: RFID reader (RC522 Module) 

Class 11: RTC (Real Time Clock)  

Class 12: Accelerometer and Gyroscope (GY-521 Module)