Learn Programming and Electronics with Arduino

By Programming Electronics Academy

What's Learn Programming and Electronics with Arduino about?

Video lessons on learning programming and electronics with Arduino. This is part of our Arduino Crash Course and Arduino Course for Absolute Beginners. It's designed to take someone with little or no experience in programming and electronics and get them fast-tracked to learning the skills to prototype using Arduino.

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Learn Programming and Electronics with Arduino episodes:

08.29.2017
Arduino Course for Absolute Beginners 2nd Edition
04.28.2017
What is Arduino?
Have you seen some really cool stuff being made with a thing called Arduino? What is Arduino anyway? It sounds like an Italian sandwich with extra cheese or something... Well - it's that and a lot more. I hope this...
04.27.2017
How to change the font color in the Arduino IDE
Have you ever wanted to change the font color in the Arduino IDE? Maybe it is hard for you to read the light grey comments in the Arduino IDE, or maybe you prefer something a little bolder. Whatever your reason, in...
04.26.2017
Use Serial.print() to display Arduino output on your computer monitor: Part 2
In many cases while using an Arduino, you will want to see the data being generated by the Arduino. One common method of doing this is using the Serial.print() function from the Serial library to display information to your computer’s...
04.25.2017
Use Serial.print() to Display Arduino output on your computer monitor: Part 1
In many cases while using an Arduino, you will want to see the data being generated by the Arduino. One common method of doing this is using the Serial.print() function from the Serial library to display information to your computer’s...
04.24.2017
How to make a secret knock detector to trigger anything with only an Arduino and a few cheap components
There are a couple good use-case scenarios for making a secret knock detector using an Arduino. You are a spy who needs to authenticate your cohorts You are a super hero who wants a secret knock to open the...
04.23.2017
Arduino Pseudo Random Non-Consecutive Number Generator
In this video we demonstrate how to create pseudo random numbers with Arduino - with a useful twist. This lesson was inspired by the following viewer question: How do I create Random Non-Consecutive numbers with Arduino? P.S. These are...
04.22.2017
A Review of Make: Magazine
I don’t subscribe to many magazines, but I love my subscription to Make: magazine. And even though I rarely have time to sit down and enjoy a magazine in peace and quiet (parents forget what peace and quiet means), I...
04.21.2017
Understanding the Arduino Sketchbook: Opening and Saving Arduino Sketches
Understanding how the Arduino IDE sets up its file directory system can spare you some confusion when it comes to saving, organizing and opening your Arduino sketches (or sketches you have downloaded from the internet). This week’s episode covers the...
04.20.2017
An Easy Way to Learn I2C, SPI, RTC, ADCs and More with this Awesome Arduino Education Shield
In this video we talk about an Arduino shield designed to teach you about shift registers, I2C, SPI, temperature sensors, real time clocks, analog to digital convertors and flash memory chips - all this on one awesome Arduino shield! Electronics...
04.19.2017
The Process and Tools I use for Creating Arduino Tutorials
This week's Episode is what I am calling an intermission, which is basically me taking a break from hardcore Arduino tutorial making, and present a less technical topic. In this intermission video, I walk through the process I use when creating...
04.18.2017
Using the Same Input to Trigger Multiple Arduinos
If you ever have a project using two or more Arduinos, it's likely you'll want them to work together. Say for example you have one Arduino connected to an LCD shield, and another Arduino controlling an LED matrix. You want both...
04.17.2017
6 Tips on Assembling an Arduino Shield (Or any Electronics Kit)
In this video we will be talking about some key points to keep in mind when assembling an Arduino shield from a kit. Many of these tips will apply equally well to any type of electronics kit you are assembling....
04.16.2017
A YouTube Channel for Learning about Arduino
In this episode I talk about the video channel that I host on YouTube. If you have watched any previous episodes of this channel then you know I focus on Arduino related topics. The purpose of the channel is to...
04.14.2017
What is a Breakout Board for Arduino?
If you have been learning about Arduino for any amount of time, than you have probably come across the term Breakout Board. Now, you might think, as I did when I first heard about breakout boards, that they were some...
04.13.2017
What is an Arduino Shield?
If you are learning about Arduino, you have no doubt come across the term Arduino Shield. This tutorial will explain what Arduino Shields are, why they are awesome, and several things to consider when buying shields. cool electronics ideas that...
04.12.2017
How to Use and Understand the Arduino Reference
So you just opened up your fancy new gadget - maybe an awesome DSLR camera, or the newest gaming system, or maybe a new Blu-ray player. As you gladly tear away the packaging - you notice a small book that...
04.11.2017
Using Red-Green-Blue (RGB) LEDs with Arduino (Common Cathode Type)
In this tutorial we describe using RGB LEDs of the Common Cathode Type. We will describe setting up the circuit, talk about the LED and discuss the code used to adjust the hue.
04.10.2017
Using Random Numbers with Arduino
This video tutorial talks about using the random() and randomSeed() functions with Arduino. It is pretty straight forward, but there are some intricacies worth noting. Creating truly random numbers in Arduino is harder than you might think. The closest we...
04.09.2017
Kit-on-a-Shield for Arduino
Ever ever spent too much time searching for a 220 ohm resistor or just one more jumper wire? Are you sure you had that extra LED, LDR, [Fill in the blank], but have no idea where it went? Do you just...
04.08.2017
How to Make One Button Have the Functionality of Two or More with Arduino
Do you have an application where you want multiple buttons for different user inputs? Maybe you have a timer and you want one button for minutes and another for hours. But there is a problem – you only have room...
04.07.2017
Understanding HIGH and LOW Arduino Pin States
If you are just getting started with Arduino, you might be wondering what the heck all this HIGH and LOW stuff everyone is talking about really means. At first I just figured everyone using micro-controllers was just on some type...
04.06.2017
Floating Pins, Pull-Up Resistors and Arduino
Floating Pins on Arduino have always been a bit of mystery to me. It just never made much sense. I did this video more for my own sake - just to concrete it in my brain. I hope it can...
04.05.2017
The MOST guaranteed way to NOT buy a Fake Arduino (The Story of Pizza-Duino)
Let's not be duped by people trying to sell us authentic Arduino's that are counterfeit. This video will show you the one way to be sure you get the real deal, and five methods of telling if you bought a counterfeit...
04.04.2017
Throw out your breadboard! Dr. Duino: An Arduino Shield for debugging and developing Arduino projects
In the last couple of episodes we have talked about Arduino shields and breakout boards. In this video, we will review a specific Arduino shield that makes developing projects and debugging sketches on the Arduino extremely easy - it's called...
04.03.2017
Shorthand Arithmetic :: Using Compound Operators (+= , -= , *= , /= ) with Arduino
In this lesson we discuss some common shorthand for simple arithmetic in Arduino. We cover several compound operators that add, subtract, multiply and divide making it easy to increment variables in useful ways.
04.02.2017
Understanding Boolean Data Types and Using the Boolean NOT (!) operator to Switch Arduino Pin States
04.01.2017
What to do when you just don't know :: Arduino, ADXL345 triple axis accelerometer and an RGB LED
This lesson discusses what to do when you open an existing program and realize that you simply don't understand all the stuff that is going on. It also talks about using the ADXL345 triple axis accelerometer breakout board to control...
03.31.2017
3 Ways to Use Acceleration in an Arduino Sketch
This lesson covers three easy ways to implement some form of acceleration in your Arduino sketches. It will cover the following: Linear Acceleration Exponential Acceleration Messing Around with the Square Root function What is Acceleration? Acceleration is...
03.30.2017
Check out our premium Arduino Training Course
03.29.2017
Understanding the Arduino uber functions loop() and setup()
Discussion: In this lesson, we're going to discuss two very special functions that you will use in every single Arduino sketch that you write. They're called Setup and Loop. Specifically, we’ll cover: How Setup Operates and the type of...
03.28.2017
Functions: Let's make programming Arduino as easy as possible
Discussion: In this lesson, we're going to do an overview of functions. This will be just a general discussion to lay out a framework for understanding how functions work and how we can use them. More specifically, we'll be talking...
03.27.2017
Data Types: One size does not fit all
Discussion: We're going to explore some of the specific data types you'll encounter as you begin to program with Arduino. We’ll tackle data types in more detail, to include: Integer and Integer Qualifier Long Float Byte Boolean Character ...
03.26.2017
Understanding Variables
Discussion: This lesson covers one of the most fundamental of all programming concepts: Variables. This is a really exciting topic because once you have a handle on how variables work, you have one of the biggest keys to understanding how...
03.25.2017
Syntax; the spelling and grammar of programming
You Will Need: The Arduino IDE installed and an Arduino connected to your computer. Discussion: In this lesson, we're going to be talking about programming syntax. We'll be introducing some of the basic programming syntax that you'll be...
03.24.2017
Progress vs Perfection: Chicken Analogy
Discussion: Will the Chicken Cross the Road? So there's this chicken, and he's on the side of the road. He wants to cross the road. He wants to get to the other side. Before he steps out and crosses the...
03.23.2017
The Arduino Development Toolchain - How it all gets done...
Discussion: In this lesson, we're going to do an overview of the Arduino toolchain. The toolchain includes all of the software tools that are between us pressing the Verify/Upload buttons and that code actually getting loaded onto the integrated circuit...
03.22.2017
Arduino Board Hardware overview for people like me
Discussion: This lesson continues our quest of learning more about programming and electronics. In previous lessons, we already discussed several reasons why we have chosen to use an Arduino board as the tool to help us learn. Specifically, we chose...
03.21.2017
Everything you need to know about the Arduino IDE (for now)
Discussion: Now that you have downloaded and set preferences, you need to become familiar with the Arduino Integrated Development Environment, or IDE for short. It works just like a text editor program. I'm only going to cover what I think...
03.20.2017
Mac - Download and Install the Arduino IDE
Discussion: Before you begin using the Arduino IDE, you must first learn how to download, install, and set your preferences. This lesson is specifically tailored for those who use a Mac. (The last lesson covered this same topic, but for...
03.19.2017
PC - Download and Install the Arduino IDE
Discussion: Before you begin using the Arduino IDE, you must first learn how to download, install, and set your preferences. This lesson is specifically tailored for those who use a PC. The next lesson will cover this same topic, but...
03.18.2017
Arduino Integrated Development Environment Version
Discussion: The following videos will show you step by step how to download and install the Arduino Integrated Development Environment, or IDE for short. We'll also be setting up some preferences in the IDE. The phrase Integrated Development Environment may...
03.17.2017
Map of the Familiarization Module
Discussion: Before we can start diving into programming the microcontroller on the Arduino, we need to have a solid understanding of the tools used to make it happen. Therefore, in this particular lesson, we're just going to do an overview...
03.16.2017
Parts List
Discussion: In this video, I’ll explain what parts you'll need to complete this Arduino Crash Course. Immediately below this discussion section, there is a summary checklist of links for these parts. You're welcome to check it out! The links take...
03.15.2017
Rebranding Clarification
Open Source Hardware Group is now Programming Electronics Academy - we rebranded!
03.14.2017
Our Premium Arduino Training
Check out our Premium Arduino Training Course.
03.13.2017
If Statement Conditionals
If Statement (and else-if), Comparison Operators and Conditions In the last lesson, we learned about the if statement. The if statement was the perfect choice for setting up instructions to run only when certain conditions were met. “If 30 seconds...
03.13.2017
Fade an LED with Arduino
Let’s expand the repertoire of output that we can use by looking at the function analogWrite(). I experienced much confusion with analogWrite(), because I suspected that it had to do with the analog pins on the Arduino. The function, however,...
03.12.2017
How to read voltages with analogRead()
In the last lesson you learned about using the analogRead() function to collect data from a sensor connected to one of the Arduino analog pins. The range of data we received from the analogRead() function was mapped between 0 to...
03.11.2017
analogRead() and the Serial Port
Knowing if something is on or off can be extremely useful, but often you will want to know more. How bright is the light? How fast is the satellite moving? These types of answers are often analog – they cover...

What's Learn Programming and Electronics with Arduino about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Learn Programming and Electronics with Arduino episodes:

Arduino Course for Absolute Beginners 2nd Edition

What is Arduino?

How to change the font color in the Arduino IDE

Use Serial.print() to display Arduino output on your computer monitor: Part 2

Use Serial.print() to Display Arduino output on your computer monitor: Part 1

How to make a secret knock detector to trigger anything with only an Arduino and a few cheap components

Arduino Pseudo Random Non-Consecutive Number Generator

A Review of Make: Magazine

Understanding the Arduino Sketchbook: Opening and Saving Arduino Sketches

An Easy Way to Learn I2C, SPI, RTC, ADCs and More with this Awesome Arduino Education Shield

The Process and Tools I use for Creating Arduino Tutorials

Using the Same Input to Trigger Multiple Arduinos

6 Tips on Assembling an Arduino Shield (Or any Electronics Kit)

A YouTube Channel for Learning about Arduino

What is a Breakout Board for Arduino?

What is an Arduino Shield?

How to Use and Understand the Arduino Reference

Using Red-Green-Blue (RGB) LEDs with Arduino (Common Cathode Type)

Using Random Numbers with Arduino

Kit-on-a-Shield for Arduino

How to Make One Button Have the Functionality of Two or More with Arduino

Understanding HIGH and LOW Arduino Pin States

Floating Pins, Pull-Up Resistors and Arduino

The MOST guaranteed way to NOT buy a Fake Arduino (The Story of Pizza-Duino)

Throw out your breadboard! Dr. Duino: An Arduino Shield for debugging and developing Arduino projects

Shorthand Arithmetic :: Using Compound Operators (+= , -= , *= , /= ) with Arduino

Understanding Boolean Data Types and Using the Boolean NOT (!) operator to Switch Arduino Pin States

What to do when you just don't know :: Arduino, ADXL345 triple axis accelerometer and an RGB LED

3 Ways to Use Acceleration in an Arduino Sketch

Check out our premium Arduino Training Course

Understanding the Arduino uber functions loop() and setup()

Functions: Let's make programming Arduino as easy as possible

Data Types: One size does not fit all

Understanding Variables

Syntax; the spelling and grammar of programming

Progress vs Perfection: Chicken Analogy

The Arduino Development Toolchain - How it all gets done...

Arduino Board Hardware overview for people like me

Everything you need to know about the Arduino IDE (for now)

Mac - Download and Install the Arduino IDE

PC - Download and Install the Arduino IDE

Arduino Integrated Development Environment Version

Map of the Familiarization Module

Parts List

Rebranding Clarification

Our Premium Arduino Training

If Statement Conditionals

Fade an LED with Arduino

How to read voltages with analogRead()

analogRead() and the Serial Port