Read Before Class

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 01: Why this lesson comes first
2. Lesson 01: Choosing an LED series resistor
3. Lesson 01: Breadboard connections
4. Theory Reference: Power and safety rules

Practise after class

Finish the first two Code Along exercises and read the pre-reading for session 2. Homework in this course means finishing what class didn't, not extra work - if you finished in class, you only have the reading.

• Code Along 1.1: Hello, Uno
• Code Along 1.2: Wiring label

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 02: Power pins: 5V, 3.3V, VIN, AREF and GND
2. Lesson 02: Electrical limits
3. Lesson 03: Verify vs Upload
4. Theory Reference: Program structure: setup() and loop()

Practise after class

Finish Make it blink and Add a Serial trace, and read the pre-reading for session 3.

• Code Along 1.5: Make it blink
• Code Along 1.6: Add a Serial trace

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 04: setup once, loop forever
2. Lesson 04: Variables store changing values
3. Lesson 04: const for pins and fixed values
4. Theory Reference: Serial.begin() and Serial.println()

Practise after class

Finish Calculate with variables and Celsius to Fahrenheit.

• Code Along 2.3: Calculate with variables
• Code Along 2.4: Celsius to Fahrenheit

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 04: Choosing a type on the Uno
2. Lesson 04: Syntax that trips beginners
3. Theory Reference: Uno type summary
4. Theory Reference: Arithmetic operators

Practise after class

Finish the variables chapter up to Seconds to hours, minutes and seconds.

• Code Along 2.5: Fix the average
• Code Along 2.6: Share out the sweets
• Code Along 2.7: Seconds to hours, minutes and seconds

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Theory Reference: Common sketch and wiring faults
2. Lesson 03: Reading error messages

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 6.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 05: Assignment vs comparison
2. Lesson 05: Boolean operators
3. Lesson 05: if / else if / else
4. Theory Reference: Comparison operators

Practise after class

Finish Even or odd pulse count if you did not complete it in class, and read the pre-reading for session 7.

• Code Along 3.3: Even or odd pulse count

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Lesson 05: switch: one variable, several fixed values
2. Theory Reference: switch / case
3. Theory Reference: Truth table for two conditions

Practise after class

Finish Thermostat with a dead band and Mode selector if you did not complete them in class.

• Code Along 3.6: Thermostat with a dead bandLaptop
• Code Along 3.7: Mode selectorLaptop

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 06: UART and baud rate
2. Lesson 06: Receiving commands
3. Lesson 06: Debugging strategy
4. Theory Reference: Serial.available() and Serial.read()

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 9 and finish Fix the = bug.

• Code Along 3.2: Fix the = bug

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 07: for loop anatomy
2. Lesson 07: Arrays store related values
3. Lesson 07: The bounds trap
4. Theory Reference: for loops

Practise after class

Finish Find the largest reading if you did not complete it in class, then Where was the peak?

• Code Along 4.6: Find the largest reading
• Code Along 4.7: Where was the peak?Laptop

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Theory Reference: while and do/while
2. Theory Reference: Arrays

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 11.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 08: Why functions matter
2. Lesson 08: Parts of a function
3. Lesson 08: Returning a value
4. Theory Reference: Functions

Practise after class

Finish clampPwm() and percentToPwm().

• Code Along 5.3: clampPwm()
• Code Along 5.4: percentToPwm()

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Lesson 08: Parameters are copies; locals are temporary
2. Lesson 08: Make loop() read like a plan
3. Theory Reference: Variable scope

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 13.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 09: Safe loads vs drivers
2. Lesson 09: RGB LEDs: three dies, three resistors
3. Lesson 09: Active vs passive buzzers
4. Theory Reference: tone() and noTone()

Practise after class

Finish Colour cycle and Two-tone alarm.

• Code Along 6.4: Colour cycleLaptop
• Code Along 6.5: Two-tone alarm

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 10: Floating inputs
2. Lesson 10: Contact bounce
3. Lesson 10: Edge detection
4. Theory Reference: Edge detection

Practise after class

Finish One press, one toggle and Debounce the button.

• Code Along 7.3: One press, one toggle
• Code Along 7.4: Debounce the buttonLaptop

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Theory Reference: millis()
2. Theory Reference: min(), max(), random()

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 16.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 11: Why delay blocks
2. Lesson 11: The millis pattern
3. Lesson 11: Independent timers
4. Theory Reference: millis()

Practise after class

Finish Two LEDs, two speeds and A button that answers instantly.

• Code Along 8.3: Two LEDs, two speedsLaptop
• Code Along 8.4: A button that answers instantlyLaptop

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 11: State machines: one variable, many steps
2. Theory Reference: State machines
3. Lesson 11: Example 2: traffic light state machine

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 18, and finish your pedestrian crossing state table if you did not complete it in class.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 12: Why evidence matters
2. Lesson 12: From brief to success criteria
3. Lesson 12: Test tables that prove criteria

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 19 and bring your logbook.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 13: Why method beats guessing
2. Lesson 13: Symptom to likely cause
3. Theory Reference: Common sketch and wiring faults

Practise after class

Revise the five fault classes for the code-correction assessment.

• Code Along 9.6: Six faults, five classes

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. the Practical Assessments: Competent or not yet competent
2. the Practical Assessments: Code-correction exercise

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 21.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 13: Fault-finding sequence
2. Lesson 13: How to measure DC voltage on an Uno
3. Lesson 13: Continuity and resistance (power off)

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 22.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 14: What the ADC does
2. Lesson 14: Voltage divider and the potentiometer
3. Lesson 14: Scaling counts to volts and percent
4. Theory Reference: analogRead()

Practise after class

Finish Dark switch and Average ten readings.

• Code Along 10.3: Dark switch
• Code Along 10.4: Average ten readings

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 15: What PWM is
2. Lesson 15: analogWrite on the Uno
3. Lesson 15: See PWM on the oscilloscope
4. Theory Reference: map() and constrain()

Practise after class

Read the Task A brief and start its plan sheet, finish Breathing LED, then rehearse Task A's logic in Code Along 16.1 to 16.3. Do those three on a laptop, not a phone.

• Code Along 11.4: Breathing LED
• Code Along 16.1: Make the outputs match the stateLaptop
• Code Along 16.2: Button A steps through the speedsLaptop
• Code Along 16.3: Button B stops the fanLaptop

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Practical Task A: Extractor Fan Speed Selector
2. Lesson 12: Truth tables for state logic
3. Lesson 12: Pin, power and conflict plan

Practise after class

Finish your Task A plan and start the sketch.

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. the Practical Assessments: Practical Task A - Extractor fan speed selector
2. Theory Reference: Edge detection

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 26.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 16: Why loads need a driver
2. Lesson 16: Logic-level N-channel MOSFET
3. Lesson 16: Flyback diode
4. Theory Reference: High-current output

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 27.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 17: Control signal: pulse width
2. Lesson 17: Servo.h and write(angle)
3. Lesson 17: Power and common ground
4. Theory Reference: Servo output

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 28.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 18: What an H-bridge does
2. Lesson 18: Module pins and truth table
3. Lesson 18: Stop before reversing

Practise after class

Finish Safe reverse and A button changes direction.

• Code Along 13.4: Safe reverseLaptop
• Code Along 13.5: A button changes directionLaptop

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 19: The Stepper library
2. Lesson 19: step() blocks the sketch
3. Lesson 19: Power, heat and station rules

Practise after class

Bring your final project proposal to session 30: problem, user, success criteria, block diagram and parts list.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Final Project: Individual Microcontroller System
2. the Practical Assessments: Final project

Practise after class

Update your proposal if asked, and read the pre-reading for session 31.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 20: What I2C adds
2. Lesson 20: Addresses and scanning
3. Lesson 20: Same 16x2 coordinates
4. Theory Reference: I2C bus

Practise after class

Finish The counter that leaves crumbs if you did not complete it in class.

• Code Along 14.4: The counter that leaves crumbs

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 21: Three buses at a glance
2. Lesson 21: I2C
3. Lesson 21: SPI
4. Theory Reference: Using the oscilloscope on Uno signals

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 33.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 22: Carrier, demodulation and protocols
2. Lesson 22: Receiver pinout
3. Lesson 22: Capture, then map

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 34.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Theory Reference: C strings and char buffers
2. Theory Reference: snprintf and format specs
3. Theory Reference: Floats with dtostrf (AVR Uno)

Practise after class

Finish any formatting exercises you did not complete in class, ending with A clock on the display.

• Code Along 15.1: formatDate()
• Code Along 15.4: A clock on the display

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. the Practical Assessments: Competent or not yet competent

Practise after class

Read the Task B brief and the pre-reading for session 36.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 23: Why resistive sensors need a voltage divider
2. Lesson 23: Divider calculation (course wiring)
3. Lesson 23: Thresholds and hysteresis
4. Theory Reference: Hysteresis (two thresholds)

Practise after class

Start your Task B plan sheet: the pin table and a drawing of the alarm circuit.

Read before class (about 25 min)

1. Lesson 24: How an NTC thermistor works
2. Lesson 24: Beta equation: resistance to temperature
3. Lesson 24: Record the calibration

Practise after class

Complete your Task B plan, including the transistor stage for the buzzer, then work through Code Along 16.5 to 16.7 - one threshold, then two, then the broken-sensor fail-safe.

• Code Along 16.5: One threshold
• Code Along 16.6: Add the hysteresisLaptop
• Code Along 16.7: Fail safe, and report every changeLaptop

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Practical Task B: Cabinet Over-Temperature Alarm
2. the Practical Assessments: Practical Task B - Cabinet over-temperature alarm

Practise after class

Continue your Task B sketch.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. Theory Reference: Hysteresis (two thresholds)
2. Theory Reference: Floats with dtostrf (AVR Uno)

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 40.

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Theory Reference: map() and constrain()
2. Theory Reference: State machines

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 41.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 25: What a DHT reports
2. Lesson 25: Sampling interval
3. Lesson 25: Libraries and isnan
4. Theory Reference: Floats with dtostrf (AVR Uno)

Practise after class

Read the pre-reading for session 42.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 26: millis is not a wall clock
2. Lesson 26: Set time only when needed
3. Lesson 26: Fixed-width text with snprintf

Practise after class

Read the Task C brief and start its plan sheet.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 27: Design before you solder
2. Lesson 27: Integrate one subsystem at a time
3. Lesson 27: Validate before you alarm

Practise after class

Complete your Task C plan sheet: pins, power and modes. Keep your Capstone 1 sketch - Task C starts from it.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Practical Task C: Greenhouse Vent Controller
2. Lesson 12: Staged integration

Practise after class

Plan your Task C functions from the loop() layout on the brief: checkButton, readDHT, updateVent and showLcd.

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Lesson 08: Make loop() read like a plan
2. Theory Reference: State machines

Practise after class

Finish integrating Task C and start your test table.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. the Practical Assessments: Practical Task C - Greenhouse vent controller

Practise after class

Choose the extension workshop topics that will help your final project.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 29: Three rules for every ISR
2. Lesson 29: The flag pattern
3. Lesson 28: Alarm states

Practise after class

Update your final project plan with any techniques from today.

Read before class (about 20 min)

1. Lesson 31: What the HC-SR04 does
2. Lesson 32: Matrix scanning
3. Lesson 33: What this project does

Practise after class

Prepare your final project plan for session 50: pin and power plan, BOM, state table and risks.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. the Practical Assessments: Competent or not yet competent

Practise after class

Complete your final project plan for session 50.

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Final Project: Individual Microcontroller System
2. Lesson 12: Pin, power and conflict plan

Practise after class

Collect your parts and write your first subsystem test sketch.

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Lesson 12: Staged integration
2. Lesson 13: Minimal test strategy

Practise after class

Update your build schedule and fault log.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. Lesson 13: Practical evidence and logbook

Practise after class

Fix any subsystem that did not pass the check.

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Theory Reference: State machines
2. Lesson 11: Independent timers

Practise after class

Keep your fault log up to date.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. Lesson 12: Test tables that prove criteria

Practise after class

Prepare your prototype for the integration check in session 55.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. Final Project: Individual Microcontroller System

Practise after class

Fix the issues noted at your integration check.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. Lesson 12: Fault log: resolved and unresolved

Practise after class

Fix any failed tests and run them again.

Read before class (about 15 min)

1. Final Project: Individual Microcontroller System
2. Lesson 12: Bill of materials with safety notes

Practise after class

Finish your portfolio documents.

Read before class (about 10 min)

1. the Practical Assessments: Final project

Practise after class

Practise your presentation and make the agreed improvement.

Read before class

Nothing to read - bring your logbook.

Practise after class

Pack your project, charge anything that needs it, and bring your portfolio.

Read before class

Nothing to read - bring your logbook.

Practise after class

Well done. The ESP32 follow-on lessons are there when you are ready for Wi-Fi and wireless projects.