Week 1 Blog Post - Challenge Build One
The Challenge Build One - The Blinking LED
Explanation of the Project
The Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a combination of software and hardware used to allow users to learn to code and create program language that will then connect and communicate with the hardware, the Arduino circuit board, and the breadboard as well as the other parts to create a function, action, or activity. In this course, we are using this open-source software and hardware program and tools to learn about Makerspaces in academics. We are also learning the most we can in this course on the Arduino platform.
I began this project by opening the Arduino starter kit. I removed the current parts I needed, including the circuit board, breadboard, OHMS resistor, USB connector plug for the computer, and the led light. Then I began putting the hardware together for the blinking LED light activity. First, I placed the circuit board and the breadboard side by side. Next, I placed the positive end of the led light in position twelve on the breadboard. Next, I put the OHMS resistor on the opposite end of the led light. Then I placed the black jumper wire on the opposite end of the resistor. Next, I placed the red jumper wire beneath the positive end of the red led light. Next, I put the black jumper wire in the ground connection on the circuit board. Finally, I placed the red jumper wire on position twelve on the circuit board, two spaces from where I put the ground jumper wire connection. Next, I moved to the computer, where I opened the Arduino software and plugged in the USB connector so that the computer and the circuit board would communicate. I followed the instructions step by step in the blinking led light from the set of online guides that you shared with us. After numerous attempts with numerous mistakes with the coding and the placement of the items on the circuit board and breadboard, I finally got the red led light to blink repeatedly off for a second, then on for a second. This was exciting for me because I didn't think I would be able to complete this activity/challenge before the due date, which was closely approaching.
Screenshot my Blinking LED Code
Image of my Arduino Circuit Board and Breadboard
Screen Shot of Electronic Diagram for the Blinking LED light challenge
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Video of me explaining the Blinking LED
As I persisted through this challenge, I knew that I would not give up as hard as it was for me initially. When the struggle stressed me out, I walked away, did something else for a few hours, and then I went back to it and thought about what I did wrong and what I could do differently to do it correctly on this try. Completing the circuit board and breadboard precisely was my biggest challenge because I had never worked with anything like that before, and it was all new to me. I was curious and interested, and I persisted through it; where I eventually completed that part of the challenge and could move on to coding. I made minimal mistakes in that area, but I did make mistakes, where I learned from them and moved on to complete the challenge. Yeah, for me!
Final Reflection
I began this project by opening the Arduino starter kit and removing only the current parts that I needed, including the circuit board, breadboard, OHMS resistor, USB connector plug for the computer, and the led light... After numerous attempts with numerous mistakes with the coding and the placement of the items on the circuit board and breadboard, I finally got the red led light to blink repeatedly off for a second, then on for a second. This was exciting for me because I didn't think I would be able to complete this activity/challenge before the due date, which was closely approaching.This was an intimidating, exciting, and difficult challenge, to say the least. I struggled for various reasons, but I initially knew from previous work with colleagues who use computer programming daily how meticulous and detail-oriented it was. Observing others' code and doing computer programming at work, I noticed that it can also be very time-consuming. So, I never thought I would have a reason or an occasion to attempt this vital skill and knowledge.
As I mentioned in my introduction to my classmates, when we were asked to purchase this kit for the course, I became very nervous because I know well enough about computers and technology in my daily living and career that this kit involves getting to know programs and understanding the computer language. Coding and computer programming are about learning a language, just as students are asked to learn Spanish, French, or German. So when the kit came in before the beginning of the course, I did not touch it. This first week of the class started, and we all were expected to dive right in, but I was apprehensive and eager to begin at the same time. The first few days I opened the Arduino kit, I started by learning the parts and what they meant and were used for. I also knew that this kit involved constructing the circuit board and breadboard and then writing and creating computer programming coding to, for example, make the LED light blink repeatedly, make the LED light turn off, make the LED light turn on, and many others that we have not explored yet.
I learned this week that the LED light was an emitting diode. It is a component that is used to convert electrical energy into light energy as opposed to traditional/original light bulbs that transfer heat into light somehow. In addition, I learned that the longer end of the LED light was the anode or positive end. This is the part that will connect to the power. The short end of the LED light is the cathode, which is the negative end connected to the circuit board's ground. Together, assembling the circuit/breadboards and writing the correct and detailed computer programming will cause the LED to blink or many others, as stated previously.
The resistor is taking more time for me to fully wrap my head around in understanding what it does or does not do. I know it is used to resist the flow of energy and will use up some energy of the components like the LED receiving energy to produce the light. I am guessing that it is used to preserve the energy between the components (LED light in this first case) so that they will not burn out or die (if you will) too soon. I also learned that the colors (different values for each color) that surrounded the resistor all mean something in making up the specific resistor to be used on the circuit/breadboards.
This week, the jumper wires were used in our project to connect the items connected to the breadboard by connecting the Arduino circuit board. This is the only function of these jumper wires. These jumper wires come in various lengths and colors, which probably means something, but I have yet to figure that out.
Finally, one of the most critical components is the USB cable that connects the Arduino circuit board to the computer. Thus, Arduino software that a user like me writes/types the specific computer programming code necessary to carry out the assigned activities on the Arduino, which is the LED repeatedly blinking off and on for various seconds for this week's challenge. The Arduino program coding is also essential as it is the communication language that connects, communicates, and carries out the instructed activity that has been programmed, like the LED blinking light this week. It was fantastic to say that I finally completed the challenge!
As I mentioned in my introduction to my classmates, when we were asked to purchase this kit for the course, I became very nervous because I know well enough about computers and technology in my daily living and career that this kit involves getting to know programs and understanding the computer language. Coding and computer programming are about learning a language, just as students are asked to learn Spanish, French, or German. So when the kit came in before the beginning of the course, I did not touch it. This first week of the class started, and we all were expected to dive right in, but I was apprehensive and eager to begin at the same time. The first few days I opened the Arduino kit, I started by learning the parts and what they meant and were used for. I also knew that this kit involved constructing the circuit board and breadboard and then writing and creating computer programming coding to, for example, make the LED light blink repeatedly, make the LED light turn off, make the LED light turn on, and many others that we have not explored yet.
I learned this week that the LED light was an emitting diode. It is a component that is used to convert electrical energy into light energy as opposed to traditional/original light bulbs that transfer heat into light somehow. In addition, I learned that the longer end of the LED light was the anode or positive end. This is the part that will connect to the power. The short end of the LED light is the cathode, which is the negative end connected to the circuit board's ground. Together, assembling the circuit/breadboards and writing the correct and detailed computer programming will cause the LED to blink or many others, as stated previously.
The resistor is taking more time for me to fully wrap my head around in understanding what it does or does not do. I know it is used to resist the flow of energy and will use up some energy of the components like the LED receiving energy to produce the light. I am guessing that it is used to preserve the energy between the components (LED light in this first case) so that they will not burn out or die (if you will) too soon. I also learned that the colors (different values for each color) that surrounded the resistor all mean something in making up the specific resistor to be used on the circuit/breadboards.
This week, the jumper wires were used in our project to connect the items connected to the breadboard by connecting the Arduino circuit board. This is the only function of these jumper wires. These jumper wires come in various lengths and colors, which probably means something, but I have yet to figure that out.
Finally, one of the most critical components is the USB cable that connects the Arduino circuit board to the computer. Thus, Arduino software that a user like me writes/types the specific computer programming code necessary to carry out the assigned activities on the Arduino, which is the LED repeatedly blinking off and on for various seconds for this week's challenge. The Arduino program coding is also essential as it is the communication language that connects, communicates, and carries out the instructed activity that has been programmed, like the LED blinking light this week. It was fantastic to say that I finally completed the challenge!
Similar Programs/Circuits in the Real World
Christmas Lights
Sensors for various things like modern phones, garage door opener lights
Flashlights
Light Fixtures
Lamps
Batteries
Air Conditioning
Home Appliances (refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher)
Coffee Makers
Light Bulbs
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