This coming Sunday, November 13th, SparkFun is hosting a new workshop in our ever-growing series of classes - the ATMega In-Depth Class. There are some spots remaining, so if you are interested in exploring the world of ATMega microcontrollers, check it out - the ATMega In-Depth Class.
In this class, which runs from 9 AM to 5 PM, you will be working with the Arduino IDE, but will venture beyond the Arduino development board. You'll build a breadboard example of an Arduino compatible board based on the ATMega328 from Atmel, learn about clocking the chip, loading code via FTDI Basic, and will also cover using the ATMega328 as a programmer for the ATtiny85.
You'll be working with the Breadboard Arduino Compatible and the FTDI Basic.
The class takes place right here at SparkFun Headquarters. There is a prerequisite that you are experienced with Arduino, so keep that in mind. Space is limited, so sign up now. Read the full details at the class description page. Hope to see you there!
how about webcasting/recording a class... because this is an amazing oppertunity for anyone, but its limited to thoes who can get there (i live in ct. so thats a little bit of a drive) or you can offer like the educational site but have maybe online classes.
We're working hard to get the equipment and process in place for recording the classes and making them available afterward - stay tuned for details!
Heh. I mentally add the professor saying "Good news, everyone!" before all your posts. I'm hoping I'm not the only one that does this.
A sweet product would be a kit containing all the materials needed for the class, plus a DVD of the recorded class. Obviously, you wouldn't be able to ask questions, but it would be available to people who don't live close by. Selling the DVD along with the materials would also help offset the cost of producing it.
You know that's pretty much how Homeschooling works. I know cause I do it every weekday. (Chemistry Kit + Chemistry Lab Lesson = Chemistry Credit) (Except the Videos come from Colleges not Sparkfun)
Funny you say that, my friend's nickname is Papa Smurf and we are both homeschooled :) haha
1 up, for home-schoolers I am one too.
Me too! I'm a lot more interested in electronics than my friends (they homeschool as well), however somehow I can never afford all the electronics stuff I want (even though I have like $123.42 right now) ;D
This is pretty awesome. Betcha Sparkfun didn't know it had a couple homeschool followers hehe
Yea some things are kinda expensive (like the transceivers I want.) doing computer and microcontroller odd jobs do help though.
Not quite how I homeschool. I take a more [I can't think of the right word for this] approach.
Commentuous?
When you do get to start recording the classes, it would be nice if you setup a 4 way split of the video (and put it into 1080p on youtube), for diff angles of the class.
could be something like...
1: medium wide shot of instructor/workbench.
2: tight top view of circuitry work taking place.
3: tight slightly elevated front shot of circuitry work taking place.
4: 45deg angle shot of circuitry work taking place.
that way people could watch it in 1080p and for sure be able to see what details are happening, and it would take less on-site time to film. Unless you have the room and personnel to move around getting an un-obstructed view of the details the whole time :)
or if you wanted to get crazy with it, could have some diagrams being displayed in correlation with the discussion happening in the class.
just some thoughts! can't wait to see whatever you put up. :)
It would be so nice to have classes on this stuff. I for one cant go to collage and pretty much self teach myself and I cant tell you guys how bad I want these classes.
Hi all! The Department of Education is working hard to a bunch of stuff, foremost is launching a website to get you guys all of our educational content for free. We're also working on getting recordings of the classes, but bear in mind that's on top of our regular duties and creating a whole new education from the ground up. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. They serve to let us know that we are on the right track. There are a couple ways to solve the distance issue and know that we are working on a couple possibilities. -Linz
I have to agree with nearly all the comments. those of us not near Colorado are stuck Googling and tinkering because we cannot attend these types of events... the educational site or webcasting would be an awesome idea. I mean something as simple as a webcam + mike with goto meeting/etc would work for a lot of us and allow us to participate.
That's a good addition to move to the breadboard and wire an AVR up by hand. At AVRFreaks we get overloaded with people who don't understand how to wire it up and how to properly program the fuse registers. You could even brick one just so they learn how to inject a clock source and restore the fuses to default.
+1 for bricking & fixing! Those catch so many users off-guard.
can u make it online for global sparkfun community????
Speaking of which, how is progress (if any) on the educational site?
We want,We want...webcasting!,We want,We want...Open Classes, We want ,We want...Sparkfun!!!! Go,go go!...
This kit kind of gave me an idea that Sparkfun needs to add to the product line. Kind of wonder why nobody has thought of it yet, just not here anyways.
Good class :) you might want to touch on the Arduino Nightingale circuit- its the least component count arduino circuit Ive seen :)
I can't wait!!!
Agreed, I love CO but Michigan is a far way away. How about a podcast or something for those of us too far to swing by. Otherwise I'm going to have to build a telepresence bot and mail him to sparkfun...
Any chance of a publication of some sort containing the information from the class? Pleease?