Arduino Workshop for Creative Technologies

Occasionally I get asked to teach an Arduino workshop. I’m not a programmer (except hacks-a-dasically) and I’m not an electronics guru. My main coding platform of choice is Processing if I want to play and create but I guess therein lies the point. For those that want to experiment with open source platforms for programming and microcontrollers in a creative way then Arduino is amazing.

In this workshop, we will work through one (or maybe two) blink exercises that will show how we can set up the wiring, identify the right resistors and upload the code to an Arduino to make a little bit of magic happen.

The Steps – Setting Up the Arduino to Blink and LED

**Record the steps you go through with photos and video on your phone cameras – this will be useful for your blog or your project work if you plan to use this in your final write-up**

1. Collect one of the Arduino kit boxes to use in groups of 4 or 5.
2. Download the Arduino software from https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software .
3. Get the items you need out of the kit. These are:
   • 1 x Resistor 220 ohm
     (you can use this chart to identify the resistor https://www.digikey.ca/en/resources/conversion-calculators/conversion-calculator-resistor-color-code-4-band )
   • 1 x Programming Cable – 1
   • 2 x Jumper Wire M to M
   • 1 x LED
   • 1 x Arduino UNO
   • 1 x Breadboard
4. Watch the video below that explains exactly how to wire up your Arduino. I will be floating around during class to help out when people get stuck and also to demonstrate some simple ways we can adapt the code.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b62p_Vi7_jc
5. Once you have the blink test working you can adapt the code that you upload to the LED to make it blink at different intervals.
6. Two LEDs – If you have everything working then try adding a second LED to the breadboard. This video explains how along with the code. You will need an extra cable, LED (any colour) and jumper cables.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oOvprXzXyI

Other Arduino Resources

Once you have completed the task explore the Arduino tutorials section.

There are some excellent resources there along with a community of makers that makes the Arduino and other platforms like Processing so exciting for creators to work with.