Microcontroller Basics for Highschool Students

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license
Description:
This class will cover the basics of electronics and microcontroller programming, designed for students ages 14-18. We'll start with basic stuff -- voltage, current, power, resistors, and capacitors. After that, we'll move on to programming microcontrollers using the Arduino programming tools. Initially, we'll build our own microcontroller systems on breadboards. Then, we'll cover programming with the Arduino libraries -- setting pins high and low, talking to serial ports, and reading analog voltages. Finally, we'll solder our breadboarded systems onto circuit boards, so you'll go home with your own microcontroller board that you built yourself, and all the tools to program it.
Class Goals:
Students will achieve basic competence and confidence with microcontrollers and rudimentary electronics.
Prerequisites:
None, though students should be prepared to focus for 2 hours in a row.
If you've soldered a bunch and have already programmed a lot, you should wait for the next class, "Building Annoying Electronic Things" which will be more advanced.
Materials:
Please bring a laptop with you to class (any operating system is acceptable). All other materials will be supplied, and are covered by the registration fee.
Instructor Biography: