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
When?
A 2 day workshop over the 28th and 29th of August
Who?
- artag - 28th
Jobs for Volunteers
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 for ?
Who would attend these workshops, and therefore who are they aimed at ?
- nontechnical people who think it's a general computer course
- computer people with a desire to make hardware do something
- makers/artists who want to add electronics to their interactive exhibit
- musicians who want to make custom input devices for MAX/MSP etc.
- ..
(these are suggestions of groups with differing requirements, I don't know what the correct answer is.)
Thoughts on a Lesson Overview
Day 1
- 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.
Day 2
- Develop / complete Day 1 exercises
- Provide suggestions for small projects
- Develop attendees' own ideas, assisting design and suggesting solutions to problems
How many?
10 places
How much?
£100 - Including: Arduino + kit, refreshments, lunch both days and the training
£20 discount for members
Kit to go with workshop
Equipment needs for workshop
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
Publicity
| Channel | Announced |
| Posters and Flyers | |
| Upcoming | |
| LHS Mailing List | |
| LHS Wiki | |
| LHS Website | |
| IRC Topic | |
| Facebook Event | |
| Facebook Annoucement | |
| OSHG Mailing list |
