Workshops/Arduino for beginners/Planning

We will be using eventwax to take tickets, the page will be at http://londonhackspace.eventwax.com/beginners-arduino-workshop

What next ?

A pretty successful weekend, I think - the pupils all seemed fairly happy, even though nobody completed their projects as far as I saw !

We could do with some notes on how it went though : Workshops/Arduino_for_beginners/Debriefing

A 2 day workshop over the 28th and 29th of August

A description of tasks that need to be done, and who will do them.

Task	Volunteer
Lead workshop	b3cft
Helping install the Arduino IDE, for Windows	artag b3cft nneil
Helping install the Arduino IDE, for Mac	b3cft nneil
Helping install the Arduino IDE, for Linux	artag Solexious nneil
Assisting users with non-working projects	artag Solexious b3cft nneil
Drawing up equipment purchase list	Solexious b3cft
Planning Workshop tasks
Preparing kits / boards etc. (no longer required since using earthshine kit ?)	artag
Publicity	chrisf?
Catering	Clare

Who would attend these workshops, and therefore who are they aimed at ?

(these are suggestions of groups with differing requirements, I don't know what the correct answer is.)

Start with a general overview of hacking with respect to art, home automation, circuit bending, etc, presented as a short lecture to introduce the arduino and similar
- I did something similar for SkillsMatter/YDN a while ago: http://www.slideshare.net/b3cft/hardware-hacking
- culminated in this at the end of the talk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/b3cft/4798503275/
Go into a setup for people with helpers wandering around making sure the software is installed correctly (java and all that)
Pull up some more slides with setup for the basic programs; maybe go with the simple blinking light example
coffee break
Move into a more complicated example using output only
lunch
Lecture on basic electronic theory such as V=IR and similar. introduce buttons and other inputs
Go through an input example - e.g press a button to turn on or off a set of LEDS
Modify this example with perhaps a buzzer instead.
Mention briefly, processing and how to use a POT to create a nice interactive graph (this was the demo Tinker used)
Indication of how to extend arduino - optional shields, connecting relays, rs232 etc.
Once that demo is complete, depending on time, finish with a short lecture on where to get equipment, suppliers, advanced topics and cool things that have been made with Arduino.

Develop / complete Day 1 exercises
Provide suggestions for small projects
Develop attendees' own ideas, assisting design and suggesting solutions to problems

10 places

£100 - Including: Arduino + kit, refreshments, lunch both days and the training

£20 discount for members

We will need to ensure we have facilities ready for the workshop to take place

10 or more clear table places, ideally no more than 2 persons per desk
10 or more acceptable chairs
Arduino installer on USB stick in case of network connection problems
Spare computers (though I'm assuming attendees will be asked to bring a laptop)
Mains power for laptops
Power for Arduinos, possibly via USB ... PSU included in kit
Components to help attendees build their own ideas ?? Should we ask what they intend, to try to make sure we have useful stuff ?
Food
Tea / coffee / soft drinks
Projector up & working
solid-core wire for breadboarding