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The world is full of automated and remote-controlled devices.  How do they all work? Investigate the fundamentals of electronics, coding and logic.  Delve into design thinking, and learn practical skills such as wiring and prototyping, using both a virtual circuit creator and the actual electronic components to explore and experiment with basic electrical circuits.  Using low voltage (3v to 5v) Arduino-type microcontrollers (small, programmable circuit boards), campers create simple circuits and basic code that controls different components such as LED lights, Piezo speakers (sound) and mechanical movement.  After learning the basics of how the Arduino Microcontroller can be wired and programmed, the campers will use the provided components to create a series of experimental projects and incorporate their own design ideas and imagination.  Campers will be experimenting with both block-coding and text based coding languages, however, because of the limited time, the campers will have a basic introduction to the Arduino language (similar to C++), using existing Arduino “sketches” (code) and then modifying and adapting the code to improve its functionality.  They will have the option to create an obstacle avoidance rover, or, use their imagination to make some other animated/robotic creation using the sensors and other kit components.

Campers will be provided daily with both recorded and live/online instruction and support.  There will be opportunities for full group, smaller (2 or 3) group and individual live chats to get support, direction and to share progress over the two weeks.  An online virtual discussion “room” (using an educational virtual learning environment called “Schoology”) will be available for campers to have discussions, share ideas, chat and get to know each other (monitored and moderated) and a virtual exposition site where campers can post videos and pictures of their progress, and creations. IMPORTANT:  Because students will be using electricity, it is understood that there will be adult supervision/presence at all times, as even the low voltage we are working with has the potential to be short-circuited by the inexperienced user and create a burn or fire hazard.  Campers will also need to create accounts in some educational, online learning tools/apps, if under 13 years old, they may need parental permission and help.

NOTE:  approximately $80 of the cost of the course purchases the Arduino experimental Kit supplies that they will keep.  The board & sensors can be reused over and over, for other projects and there are plenty of resources to expand & explore the world of microcontrollers.
JEANNE WEBER

The world is full of automated and remote-controlled devices.  How do they all work? Investigate the fundamentals of electronics, coding and logic.  Delve into design thinking, and learn practical skills such as wiring and prototyping, using both a virtual circuit creator and the actual electronic components to explore and experiment with basic electrical circuits.  Using low voltage (3v to 5v) Arduino-type microcontrollers (small, programmable circuit boards), campers create simple circuits and basic code that controls different components such as LED lights, Piezo speakers (sound) and mechanical movement.  After learning the basics of how the Arduino Microcontroller can be wired and programmed, the campers will use the provided components to create a series of experimental projects and incorporate their own design ideas and imagination.  Campers will be experimenting with both block-coding and text based coding languages, however, because of the limited time, the campers will have a basic introduction to the Arduino language (similar to C++), using existing Arduino “sketches” (code) and then modifying and adapting the code to improve its functionality.  They will have the option to create an obstacle avoidance rover, or, use their imagination to make some other animated/robotic creation using the sensors and other kit components.

Campers will be provided daily with both recorded and live/online instruction and support.  There will be opportunities for full group, smaller (2 or 3) group and individual live chats to get support, direction and to share progress over the two weeks.  An online virtual discussion “room” (using an educational virtual learning environment called “Schoology”) will be available for campers to have discussions, share ideas, chat and get to know each other (monitored and moderated) and a virtual exposition site where campers can post videos and pictures of their progress, and creations. IMPORTANT:  Because students will be using electricity, it is understood that there will be adult supervision/presence at all times, as even the low voltage we are working with has the potential to be short-circuited by the inexperienced user and create a burn or fire hazard.  Campers will also need to create accounts in some educational, online learning tools/apps, if under 13 years old, they may need parental permission and help.

NOTE:  approximately $80 of the cost of the course purchases the Arduino experimental Kit supplies that they will keep.  The board & sensors can be reused over and over, for other projects and there are plenty of resources to expand & explore the world of microcontrollers.
JEANNE WEBER