Week 1

Tuesday, January 17th
Introductions, Fantasy Device, Expectations, Online Journal

For Next Class:

• Set up your Online Object Journal and email me the link
• Complete the Intro Survey
• Read How to use a Breadboard
• Read What is Electricity

Thursday, January 19th
Basic Electronics, Identifying Components, Schematics, Kits

For Next Class:

• Complete Lab 1
• Watch Schematics Videos - Intro, Basic Symbols, and Review

Week 2

Tuesday, January 24th
Using a Multimeter, Switches, Materials, Soldering, Laser Cutting
Due: Lab 1

For Next Class:

• Watch Ohm’s Law Part 1 and Part 2
• Read Electricity: The Basics
• Begin reading There are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings (finish by 1/31)

Thursday, January 26th
Series and Parallel Circuits, Ohm’s Law, Soldering

For Next Class:

• Complete Lab 2
• Read Chapter 1 of The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
• Watch 3 Ways Good Design Makes You Happy
• Read pages 1-40 of There are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings

Week 3

Tuesday, January 31st
BTU Lab Orientation, Design Discussion
Due: Lab 2

For Next Class:

• Complete Lab 3
• Read Tom Igoe on Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits and Misses
• Read Chris Crawford’s What Exactly Is Interactivity

Thursday, February 2nd
Photographing Hardware, Blog Critique, Interactive Object Concepts, Introduce Project 1
Due: Lab 3

For Next Class:

• Read Microcontrollers: The Basics
• Read Microcontroller Pin Functions
• Read Chapters 1 and 2 in Speculative Everything
• Read Chapter 9 in Make it So

Week 4

Tuesday, February 7th
Reading Discussion, Microcontrollers, Intro to Arduino, Digital Input / Output

For Next Class:

• Complete Lab 4
• Read Analog vs. Digital
• Read Sensors: The Basics
• Watch Sensors 1 and Sensors 2

Thursday, February 9th
Analog Input, Sensors, Variable Resistors, Serial Monitor
Due: Lab 4

For Next Class:

• Complete Lab 5
• Read Pulse-width Modulation

Week 5

Tuesday, February 14th
Analog Output, PWM vs. Frequency Modulation
Due: Lab 5

For Next Class:

• Submit Project 1 Proposal
• Work on Lab 6

Thursday, February 16th
Review, Project Discussion
Due: Project 1 Proposal - You will receive a thumbs up or down on your proposal by Monday 2.20

For Next Class:

• Prepare for Quiz #1

Week 6

Tuesday, February 21st
In Class: Quiz #1

For Next Class:

• Get all of your parts for Project 1
• Complete Lab 6
• Watch What is Open Source Hardware
• Read Production Bits
• Read Open Source Hardware Checklist
• Read Open Source Lab Froward

Thursday, February 23rd
Open Source Hardware with Alicia Seidle, Project Work Time
Due: Lab 6

For Next Class:

• Watch Meet the Motors

Week 7

Tuesday, February 28th
Project 1 Work Day

For Next Class:

• Prepare Project 1 for playtesting

Thursday, March 2nd
playtesting
In Class: Project 1 Playtesting

For Next Class:

• Work on Project 1

Week 8

Tuesday, March 7th
Fritzing, Schematics, Circuit Design, Soldering & Protoboards

For Next Class:

• Work on Project 1

Thursday, March 9th
Project 1 Work Day

For Next Class:

• Complete Project 1

Week 9

Tuesday, March 14th
Project Critique
Due: Project 1

Thursday, March 16th
Documentation Day

For Next Class:

• Watch Meet the Motors
• Read Tom Igoe’s Notes on Steppers
• Read DC Motors: The Basics

Due end-of-day Friday 3.17 Project 1 Documentation

Week 10

Tuesday, March 21st
Final Project Discussion, Actuators, DC Motors, Steppers, H-Bridge

For Next Class:

• Complete Lab 7

Thursday, March 23rd
More Motors
Due: Lab 7

Week 11 - SPRING BREAK

Tuesday, March 28th - NO CLASSES

Thursday, March 30th - NO CLASSES

Week 12

Tuesday, April 4th
Introduction to Serial Communication with p5.js, Project 2 Discussion

For Next Class:

• Watch Analyzer & ASCII
• Watch DIY Serial Protocol
• Complete Project 2 Proposal

Thursday, April 6th
Serial Communication
Due: Project 2 Proposal

For Next Class:

• Complete Lab 8

Week 13

Tuesday, April 11th
Project 2 Workshopping
Due: Lab 8

Thursday, April 13th
Microcontroller Survey, Data Logging + Networked Sensors

Week 14

Tuesday, April 18th
Participation + Individual Blog Reviews
In Class: Quiz #2

Thursday, April 20th
In Class: Project 2 Playtesting

Week 15

Tuesday April 25th
Topics Based on Student Interest

Thursday, April 27th
Work Day

Week 16

Tuesday, May 2nd
Work Day

Wednesday, May 3rd ATLAS EXPO

Thursday, May 4th
Project Critique, provide peer feedback
Due: Project 2

Finals Week

Sunday, May 7th
Due: Project 2 Documentation - due by the end of the day

We will not meet in person during Finals Week