Friday, January 23, 2009

Arduino in High School Electronics

I started using Arduino, an open source electronics platform in my one semester electronics course. Arduino incorporates a microcontroller (mini computer) and allows for a lot of really cool options. Last semester was the first semester I used Arduino with the whole class. It went fairly well.

All students were required to create a final project. I gave them the option of working with a partner with the caveat that when they presented their final project I would get to decided which of the two of them would have to answer my questions.

Their projects included not only the circuitry and programming, but students also had to physically build the device. This ended up being a really good project. Even if they chose to build upon a project they found on the net they had to tinker with it to make it do what they wanted it to do.

Once completed, students had to write up and present their projects on Google Sites. If you're interested you can go to the class site to find descriptions, pictures and Arduino code. Below is a video created by a pair of my students who used an old remote controlled car as the chassis for an autonomous Arduino controlled robot.


Crossposted from FlosScience

8 comments:

Ben said...

Nice, I especially like the way you got to question them, so they both had to make sure they knew a little bit of everything about the project.

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Rómulo Benítez said...

Hi, I'm a high school teacher at Lima-Peru. I'm interested in include arduino for electronics and physics final projects. Can you tell me any experience or advice for young students, because they haven't worked with arduino before. Is there any curriculum or trainin course for schools?.

Unknown said...

I also started using arduino in my advanced physics of robotics class this year. Students had to invent or use existing programs modify them gave printouts to prove sensor input / output. Modify circuits as well as use fritzing to do breadboards and schematics as well as videos of working projects. I was pleased with the outcome especially since it was the first time...

Mr. Penza said...
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Mr. Penza said...
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Mr. Penza said...

Hi Mr. Dickie,
I am currently looking at implementing an intro to electronics course in my High School featuring the use of Arduino. I just spent the last hour or so reviewing your site. Knowing how much is involved in putting something like the together, I congratulate you on your astounding accomplishments, from the grading system to your podcasts and general course material. Thanks so much for making this public. What a great headstart you've given to any and all of us who are trying to implement this kind of pertinent coursework. Greatly appreciated. Your students are quite lucky to have your platform and expertise.
Thanks very much for this material. I teach AP Computer Science, Web Design, CAD, Robotics. If there is anything you could ever use on my sites please feel free to use it.