<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I think the Arduino classes would be a great thing, and a specific project like the break beam alarm would allow people to learn while building something they could use. I am confident that, as Darcy suggested, the curriculum would be constantly tweaked as feedback from the participants is received.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would like to add my thoughts to the plan in the hope that they can add to the course design. If this was already in the plans, well, no harm done.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>My suggestions come from my being a slightly different type of beginner. I am an Arduino beginner, but I have programmed before, so understanding where to use loops and if statements and other constructs is not a problem, I just have to look up the specific C syntax. I am familiar with computers and have my Arduino up and running and have coded some simple things by copying projects on the web. I also have a pretty good idea of how I may want to build my projects by using a simple drawing. I can figure out what sensors I would need, optical, audio, heat and proximity for some examples of the almost endless choices. I know what I want to do with the sensors’ data and probably how to do it in a pseudo kind of way.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Finally to my point, I (almost) fall completely apart when it comes to designing the actual circuit so that as few as possible components fry. I think that a course on how to read and understand the data sheets that come with every component and how to calculate loads on the components, and I don’t just mean the actual formulas, but why and where to apply the formulas, would be like teaching someone to fish as opposed to just giving them a fish. Almost any project you can dream up has been done and resides somewhere on Youtube or Instructables or even on the Arduino home page , but plugging components into a breadboard and adding resistors and capacitors and downloading the sketch is not “learning”, it’s a start, but not the end. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As well, a course on the various electronic components used to accomplish particular tasks, transistors and relays for example would help in the circuit design phase.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope this helps in some way.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bob<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>