assignments
due Tue Jan 27
getting started
- Tell me about your computer and tech background, if any. What sort of computer do you have (if any)? (Submit this and all homework on the class website - I'll do a demo on Tuesday.)
- Get the SIK (Sparkfun Inventor's Kit) from the bookstore.
- Read the beginning of the RedBoard_SIK_3.2.pdf (see the resources page, and start getting the software installed that it describes.
- Come to class Tuesday ready to do the "Blinking an LED" lab.
due Tue Feb 3
second lab
- Make sure that first lab (Blink) works, and that you can change the timing.
- Look at the next one - Potentiometer - in the lab manual, and come ready to play around with that one.
- Submit work here telling me how it's going.
due Thu Feb 12
third lab
- We're doing the 3rd lab (RGB LED) on Tues Feb 10.
- There's lots of new coding in this one.
- How is it all going? Please write me a note to say what is and isn't working for you.
due Tue Feb 17
fourth lab
- Today ... you guessed it .. the 4th lab, eight LEDs!
- Again there is more new in the code (arrays) than the circuit.
- There are 16 labs and 13 weeks, so we're going to have speed up if we're going to get through them all. Either we can divy them up and do some show-n-tell, or just do several per class. Your thoughts?
- I would also like to have you write-up a couple, say one before spring break and one at the end of the term. Let's discuss in class.
- Your thoughts?
due Tue Feb 24
fifth lab
- Do Lab 5 in class : push buttons
- For next week: labs 6 & 7
- Due before spring break : a write-up on a variation a lab or variation - your choice.
due Tue Mar 3
sixth & seventh labs
- Today we're doing two sensor labs 6 & 7
due Tue Mar 10
eighth lab
due Fri Mar 13
MIDTERM WRITEUP
- For one of your two graded assignments, choose anything that we've done and write it up as a short paper.
- Choose a project that suits your experience level : it can be a circuit and code from the kit, or a variation of either the circuit or code from class, or something you worked up on your own.
- Explain what's going on in the circuit (voltage, current, arduino inputs and outputs) and in the code (variables, timing, etc.)
- Include any images, pictures, screenshots, or sketches as you see fit.
- The whole thing should be comparable to something like a three page or so paper.
- Grading will be based on
- Evidence that you understand what's going on.
- Evidence of some time spent on the project.
- Technical expertise and creativity. (Not required, but brownie points if you go that way.)
- Clarity of expression and thoroughness.
- You may get assistance from other classmates and/or the CS tutor, Sam Judson. If so, and as always, quote your sources so that's it's clear what is your own work.
- If you would like an extension (say into spring break), ask and it will likely be granted.
- If you have questions, ask.
due Tue Mar 31
nineth and tenth labs
- flex sensor & soft potentiometer
due Tue Apr 7
11th and 12th labs
due Tue Apr 14
13th and 14th labs
due Tue Apr 21
15th lab
due Tue Apr 28
16th lab
due Fri May 8
FINAL WRITEUP
- Same idea as the midterm, but now choose something related to what we've done in the second half of the term. You can pick anything you've done that illustrates your understanding.
- Extensions granted to the Monday after upon request.
term grade
- a place for Jim to give overall feedback and a term grade