Arduino® Prototyping

About the Course

Arduino® Prototyping

Grades 7-10
CTY-Level
LIVE
Computer Science and Technology

What do punch-activated flamethrowers, automatic pet feeders, and mind-controlled drones have in common? They’re all real devices built and programmed using Arduino® microprocessors. This open-source electronics platform integrates hardware and software to create an unlimited array of automated electronic systems.

Discover what a digital prototyping platform can accomplish as you work on creating devices that undertake tasks such as reading data from a sensor or activating lights based on motion and proximity.

Using an Arduino® microprocessor, a breadboard, and a sensor and actuator kit, explore existing prototypes, learn to modify code, and adapt designs to fit their needs. Your final project will be designing, coding, and building a device that addresses a specific need within your community.

Fall and Spring time commitment: 4-5 hours per week (1-hour of class time, 3-4 hours of independent work).
Summer time commitment: 12-15 hours per week (3-hours of class time, 9-12 hours of independent work).

Course Overview

What we'll do

You will meet with your instructor and classmates for synchronous meetings via Zoom to learn new skills and techniques, share what you have learned and built, and discuss possible solutions for the interactive challenges presented in the course. You will then have time to investigate, plan, and build projects to solve the challenges during asynchronous work time between sessions. Throughout the course, your instructor and classmates will provide feedback and assistance via Zoom and Microsoft Teams. In the final synchronous session, you will complete an open-ended project on your own and present it in class.

What we’ll learn

How to assemble hardware to light a lightbulb and how voltage, resistance, and current are related by investigating Ohm’s law
How to read pseudocode, comments, and actual code, and follow a schematic to create games and other working prototypes with the Arduino microcontroller
How to follow schematics to build sensors, displays, motors and simulators, to solve various challenges by writing code to control the devices
How to use the skills you’ve learned to design, code, and build a larger prototype project to solve a specific challenge
How to evaluate other projects and use what we’ve learned to help our communities

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Read and understand computer code
Demonstrate an understanding of electronics
Test and evaluate your solutions
Explain how to create a prototype
Use a schematic to code and build your own prototypes

How we'll measure learning

Ungraded pre-test and post-test
Topical discussion forums in each unit where students share work-in-progress, ask questions, and provide thoughtful responses to questions asked by peers
Students will build and code small assignments and submit them as videos and code files to the instructor, who provides feedback
During synchronous sessions, students will present their software and hardware work, and give and receive feedback from the instructor and peers
Students will design, code, and build two in-depth projects to solve challenges, an S prototype, and a final capstone project to be presented at the final synchronous class session. Code files, videos, designs, and the final presentation files will be submitted, and the instructor will provide feedback

This course is

ungraded.

Classes

Register for an Online course by selecting an open class below. If no open classes are listed, then course enrollment is currently closed. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY.

Wednesdays

Jan 22 - Mar 19

7:00 p.m. (ET)

$1,365

Add to Waitlist

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Jun 16 - Jul 3

3:00 p.m. (ET)

$1,365

Enroll

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Jun 16 - Jul 3

12:00 p.m. (ET)

$1,365

Enroll

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Jun 16 - Jul 3

9:00 a.m. (ET)

$1,365

Enroll

Testing and Prerequisites

	Math	Verbal
Required Level	CTY-Level	Not required

Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

Cost and Financial Aid

Tuition
- Varies
Application fee
- Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
- Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)

Financial Aid

We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs (Courses with start dates July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Our application for Academic Year 2024-2025 Online Programs is expected to open in January. We encourage those who may need assistance in the future to apply for aid as early as possible.

Learn More

Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].

ELEGOO UNO R3 Super Starter Kit Compatible with Arduino IDE
Fritzing Software

Technical Requirements

This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client, and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.

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