BADGE- Electronics & Microcontrollers

Kick off your exploration of microcontrollers, small electrical circuits, and programming using MicroBlocks (a visual coding platform perfect for the Arduino or ESP32). This class is perfect for anyone wanting to create IOT devices, robots, remote control cars, or anything else that uses small electrical components!

What You Will Learn:

•  Electronics Basics: An introduction to electricity and electronics including volts, amps, ohms, watts, and their relationships with a focus on how to be safe around higher voltage electricity. A short explanation of how to use a digital multimeter will also be provided, an essential tool for anybody working with electronics! 
• Introduction to Microcontrollers: Understand what microcontrollers are and how they differ from other computing devices.
• Microcontroller Components: Explore the essential components of a microcontroller, including the CPU, memory, input/output pins, and more.
• Programming Microcontrollers: Learn how to write code for microcontrollers in the simplest program available: MicroBlocks! This is really easy to get the hang of incredibly fast.
• Interfacing with Sensors: Discover how to connect microcontrollers to various sensors and gather data from the physical world.
• Control and Automation: Explore how microcontrollers can control devices, automate processes, and build smart systems.
• A Hands-On Project: Get hands-on experience with microcontrollers by working on simple projects and practical exercises.

Who Should Attend:

• Makers and DIY enthusiasts
• Electronics hobbyists
• Students interested in electronics and programming
• Engineers and professionals who are looking to add microcontroller skills to their toolkits.

Prerequisites:

• Basic skills working with PC or Laptop, navigating using a browser.
• If you have a PC laptop with Bluetooth, bring it along. Not required- MAKE has desktop PCs.
• No programming or electronics skills are required – you’ll learn what you need in the class.

About the Instructor:

Paul Sakion is a technical writer and trainer with many years of experience presenting complex topics in fun, simple terms. As an Electrical Engineer, he has extensive experience with a wide variety of electronic equipment. His specialties include robotics, the internet of things (IoT), home automation, DIY websites, audio/music, Raspberry PI computing, sensors, and much more. If you’ve ever wanted a peek “under the hood” of how robots work or wanted to quickly get over the hurdle of adding electronics to your own project, this is the course for you.