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Learning Module #1 - Arduino
Learning Module #1 - Arduino
IMG_9007.MOVFor this project, Gabby learned the basics of Arduino. She learned how to code with the Arduino as well as create a circuit using a breadboard, alligator clips, regulators, buttons, and LEDs. Gabby mainly worked with CodeHS, which provided lessons on coding with the Arduino Online Editor (pictured below). This editor was great because it allowed Gabby and her partner to play around with the code and explore things on their own. Gabby was able to create a mini-project where pressing the buttons lights up the LEDs. Combining their newfound knowledge on buttons with coding, they finished their module with a program that lights up the LEDs one after the other once the button is pressed.
Learning Module #2 - Microbit & Maqueen
Learning Module #2 - Microbit & Maqueen
For this project, Gabby worked with Taryn Faccenda and Jenna Weldon on planning for their upcoming event, Girls Coding With Girls. They wanted to increase their knowledge on maqueen before attempting to teach younger girls. Throughout the module, Gabby watched tutorials on maqueen, revisited some of her past work on microbits, and spent most of her time on the Make Code Editor. Gabby was able to program using real code, not just drag and drop, which gave her a chance to experiment. Gabby started off with simple movement skills on the maqueen, but later advanced to using the Ultra Sonic Sensor. By the end of the module, Gabby tied together everything she learned with a mini project where the maqueen would move forward and turn right or left if an object was detected. Gabby had a lot of fun with this module and is excited to share these skills with her students at Girls Coding With Girls.
65352947409__7B84AAC2-F7F3-4222-9912-05A5BE4AEF08.MOVLearning Module #3 - Soldering
Learning Module #3 - Soldering
Gabby's learning module with soldering was unlike any computer science project she had completed before and she really enjoyed it! Gabby and her partners Taryn and Jenna spent their time taking apart the kit/researching its parts, watching tutorials, practice soldering, stripping wires, and soldering pieces onto the board. Throughout this experience, Gabby learned how to solder correctly, strip wires, desolder, and how to properly clean the soldering iron. Most importantly, she learned that soldering is a skill that takes a lot of time and patience and at the end of her module, Gabby was pleased with the result of her soldering board.
Learning Module #4 - Amazon Alexa
Learning Module #4 - Amazon Alexa
Learning module #4's focus was using Amazon Alexa to create a custom skill, and testing that out on the physical Alexa. Gabby and her partner, Taryn, faced a lot of errors and challenges during this project but they worked through them and eventually got the results they were hoping for. They used the Amazon Developer Console to code their program and spent lots of time debugging code, as it was tricky to identify errors because Gabby was unfamiliar with the coding language. By the end of this project, Gabby and her partner finished with two programs: "Gabby Cake Time" which asks the user for his/her birthday and "Speak to Detrick" which provides a random response out of Mr. Detrick's favorite sayings. Although it was frustrating at times, Gabby really enjoyed working with Alexa and loved the coding aspect to this project.
IMG_9765.MOVIMG_9816.movLearning module #5 - Raspberry pi
Learning module #5 - Raspberry pi
For this learning module, Gabby partnered with Connor D to work with the Raspberry Pi. At first, they had a very loose plan of what they wanted to learn but after a few days Gabby and Connor narrowed things down and developed a better plan. They started off by downloading Raspbian OS onto the Raspberry Pi and initially set out to create a twitter bot. They spent a few days trying to get the twitter bot to work, but their main issue was that they were unable to get a developer account with twitter. Gabby and Connor abandoned the twitter bot project and decided to start fresh. Connor focused on downloading RetroPie games using the Raspberry Pi while Gabby explored a software called Sonic Pi that allowed her to code music programs with Raspberry Pi. After experiencing and overcoming errors with both of these projects, Gabby and Connor found success! Connor figured out how to download RetroPie and got a few games working. Gabby created numerous short music programs and really enjoyed learning a whole new coding language. This module didn’t run as smoothly as they had hoped due to lots of frustrating errors, but they ended up learning a lot about these cool projects that all circle back to the Raspberry Pi.
Learning module #6 - Python
Learning module #6 - Python
Coding with Python was Gabby's focus for the 6th learning module! She worked with Dhruv D and initially set out to create two programs -- a MadLibs proram and a random password generator. Both Dhruv and Gabby had worked with Python two years ago in Intro To Computer Science, but they needed a refresher on this language and its syntax. They started off downloading Python onto their computers and soon realized that they needed to use an IDE to write their programs. Gabby and Dhruv downloaded the IDE, PyCharm, onto their laptops and got to working!
After days of hard work and persistence, they worked together to achieve their goal of writing two programs from scratch. The MadLibs was a more basic program that laid the groundwork for their second program. Gabby worked to keep advancing the random password generator, making it more and more complex with every class period. The program was created to ask the user 5 randomized questions and combine these answers to generate a specific number of secure passwords, chosen by the user. Gabby and Dhruv really enjoyed this module, combining the concepts they learned in APCSA with the coding fundamentals taught in Intro.
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Learning Module #7 - Mindflex
Learning Module #7 - Mindflex
For this learning module Sam and Gabby manipulated the Mindflex, a device designed to measure "thinking power," using an Arduino. First, they cleaned up the MindFlex by resoldering some wires and removing the old tape that previous students had put on it. Then, they wrote an online Arduino program that connected the Mindflex to a breadboard LED circuit. Sam and Gabby initially programmed an LED to blink when given MindFlex data, and later advanced this program to include 5 LEDs that each turned on at a different “thinking level.” This took a lot of work with both coding and wiring. They experienced a handful of errors with the online program, but with a lot of time and patience, Gabby and Sam found success with their LED program.
Overall, this module was extremely productive for Gabby and Sam. Learning how to use this new device was challenging, but through trial and error they found success. They are proud of their results and were pleased to present their achievements with MindFlex at the computer science showcase.
Learning Module #8 - Unity
Learning Module #8 - Unity
For Learning Module #8, Gabby worked with her partner, Jenna, to become more familiar with Unity. By the end of this learning module Gabby and Jenna had started creating a 2D game using Unity, but unfortunately weren’t able to finish as this module was not long enough to finish an entire game. However, Gabby and Jenna achieved their goal of becoming much more familiar with C# as well as Unity with this project. They used their knowledge of Java and understanding of basic coding concepts to aid them in putting together this platformer game. In their game, Gabby and Jenna programmed their sprite to run, jump, & turn. Gabby and Jenna both created custom backgrounds for their sprite to run on and taught their sprite how to change its animation based on if it was idling, running, and jumping. Learning how to work efficiently with the Unity interface was a big accomplishment for both of them during this module.
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Learning Module #9 - Color Sensor
Learning Module #9 - Color Sensor
IMG_3501.MOVWith this module, Gabby and Jenna were able to experiment with LED strips and utilize their prior coding knowledge. Even though they didn’t create an actual glove, their LED strip/color sensor program does work exactly the way that Gabby and Jenna wanted it to! When the color sensor was placed in front of an object, the color sensor picked up the color, identified the RGB values, and transferred this information over to the LED strips. Finally, Jenna and Gabby took everything they learned and brought it together in a LED/Arduino/color sensor program in which different LEDs lit up according to what color was being detected. This required them to maintain wiring organization, code their program properly, and know how to use a color sensor.
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This module taught Gabby and Jenna so much about wiring, soldering, and power systems. Gabby and Jenna learned how to create a more organized wiring project on an Arduino board and soldered wires together to connect two wires to the same port (A “Y” Soldered wire). They learned how to use a larger power supply with their program, and took advantage of the capabilities of a breadboard. Overall, Jenna and Gabby are happy with their results and proud of the hard work they put into the final module for this class.
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