Note: “codebook” entries below are verbatim pasting of all of the code we used in class. It’s possible they may not compile (i.e. may have errors) if we left things unresolved, or were writing pseudocode, etc.

Tuesday, Aug. 29th: Intro

  • Welcome to class!
  • Quick introductions: students in random pairs each answer a few questions about each other:
    1. Their name and pronouns
    2. What they’re studying and what year they’re in
    3. What brings them to this class
    4. Something fun/interesting/exciting/great/awful they did over summer break
  • Review course Canvas site briefly
  • Review main course site (the one you’re reading this on) briefly, going over the various sections listed in the navigation bar on the left
  • Quick IDeATe walking tour
  • Phys Comp Lab tour
  • Handing out individual Arduini
  • Homework 1 assigned
  • Please use the “Name Coach” feature on Canvas today or tomorrow

Thursday, Aug. 31st: Programming and electronics

  • Syllabus review—not many close readers out there, unfortunately :(
  • Previous-semester projects review
  • ioRef
    • Hand out ioRef cards
    • Review
    • Talk about systems-perspective view of various devices with use of cards and using
  • Address questions from the asynch homework questions discussion board
  • Weekly Feedback #1 assignment on Canvas—will be due Monday nights at 6pm usually, but this week it’ll be due Tuesday morning at 11am so you don’t have to turn it in during the holiday
  • Handing out additional parts for homeworks 2A and 2B (due in one week)
    • a few LEDs
    • (20) jumper wires
    • medium breadboard
    • (3) 330Ω resistors
    • (1) 5.6kΩ resistor
    • (2) 10kΩ resistors
    • (1) 10kΩ potentiometer
    • (2) tactile pushbutton
    • (1) HC-SR04 ultrasonic ranger
    • (1) hobby servo motor
    • (1) photoresistor
  • Homework 2 assigned: completing all of the asynchronous learning sequence. Due at the start of class on Thursday 9/7.

Tuesday, Sep. 5th: Project 1 intro

  • If you know stuff about photo equipment and are interested in working in IDeATe Lending, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with Linsey (IDeATe Lending manager)
  • Meeting a new student (quick intro)
  • We are between TAs right now! Working on it, and will hope to have someone by Thursday
  • Resistor color bands very briefly introduced
  • Reviewing some asynch homework questions
  • Project 1 introduction
  • Balance of class is given for Project 1 and/or homework work

Thursday, Sep. 7th: Project 1 ideation and work time

  • Still working on the TA—I have a very good prospect who’s likely to be able to join us starting next Tuesday but as of this writing we’re still TBD
  • FrIDeATe is coming up next week, Friday Sep. 15th. It’s 5–6pm down here in the IDeATe area and it’s a fun time. You can meet other IDeATe people and eat some delicious burritos!
  • Project 1 ideation review with Zach, team by team
  • Work time while you’re not in a meeting—I recommend you start trying to build some stuff.
  • No specific homework assignment for Tuesday other than it’s in your interest to start turning the crank on this project.

Tuesday, Sep. 12th: Technical learning, Project 1 work time

  • Introducing Sejal, our TA!
    • Voting on possible lab hours for her
  • Oops—I forgot to post this week’s weekly feedback. I’ll give you until tomorrow at noon to do it (assignment to be posted right after class)
  • Generic code structure recommendation (each element is optional):
      1. Gather observations (read sensors)
      1. Perform calculations (do math, and/or make decisions)
      1. Drive outputs (make lights blink, motors spin, etc.)
      1. Report diagnostic information (send Serial data back to the user)
  • How to manage multiple simultaneous events in code (using the event-loop programming model)
  • Review of a few key elements of the project assignment for clarity
  • Handing out project boards to everyone
  • Project 1 work time for balance of class
  • Reminder: take pictures as you go! The final documentation will want to see images of your progress along the way.

Thursday, Sep. 14th: Soldering tutorial, Project 1 work time

  • Quick soldering tutorial (see Canvas tutorial videos for further information)
  • FrIDeATe is tomorrow! It’s 5–6pm down here in the IDeATe area and it’s a fun time. You can meet other IDeATe people and eat some delicious burritos!
  • Tuesday class plan: we’ll come in, and you’ll demo your thing at the front of the room for a few minutes. Zach will mess with the middle step of your project so don’t fake it! Then, we’ll have the chance to try to build up a chain of transducers towards the end of class.
  • Take pictures as you go! The final documentation will want to see pictures of things that are broken and working.

Tuesday, Sep. 19th: Project 1 presentations, Project 2 introduction

  • Each person presents their Project 1 at the front of the room (about 2–4 minutes/person)
  • We attempt to chain all of the projects together for fun and science
  • Project 2 is introduced and ideation is assigned, due Thursday

Thursday, Sep. 21st: Project 2 Ideation discussions

  • Each student meets with Zach + Sejal to talk about their project 2 ideas
  • Remainder of class given to free work time

Tuesday, Sep. 26th: Project 2 work time

  • Project 1 documentation—I didn’t post a rubric, so I’m delaying the due date to Thursday at the start of class
  • Weekly feedback will be due on Sep. 27th at noon (because I didn’t post it over the weekend)
  • Grades for Project 1 presentations aren’t done, ergo cookies
  • Clarification of “prototype” expectations for Tuesday 10/3 following Project 2 assignment document
  • Small-group advice sessions for Project 2 (students helping each other in groups)
  • Please disassemble your Project 1 boards and return the pieces where they belong (assuming your documentation is complete)

Thursday, Sep. 28th: Fusion360 and lasercutter tutorials

  • Some grades are still outstanding, hence snack time. I have a reasonable weekend this time around and have a reasonable expectation to be entirely caught up (including Project 1 documentation) by Tuesday! I’m sorry for the delay. Please always feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Fusion360 tutorial for interested students (only a handful elected to do this)
  • Lasercutter tutorial for interested students (seems like everyone?)

Tuesday, Oct. 3rd: Project 2 Prototype presentations

  • I’m up to date on grades as far as I’m aware (still a few Project 1 documentation grades needed, but those were only due last Thursday so they’re not due to you until this Thursday). Reminder: for documentation, you can make any changes you like and just let me know and I’ll regrade without penalty. Timing for that: a one-week window opens when I return grades to you, for you to give me notice that you’ve made any changes, and I’ll take a look and regrade.
  • I fixed the weekly feedback assignments so they auto-post, which was a feature I didn’t know about. So there should be no more trouble with those moving forward. Write me if there’s a problem.
  • If you’re having lasercutter access trouble, please email help@andrew.cmu.edu, and they’ll be able to fix what’s wrong. It appears there’s a bug in the program that checks if you’ve done your Bioraft trainings.
  • Let me know if you would like any additional project help that you’re not able to get in class. I’m happy to make appointments to meet with anybody who would like to meet about anything.
  • Individual Project 2 prototype presentations of a couple minutes, followed by a couple of minutes of feedback (using the written feedback form posted on Canvas)
  • Reminder: we have a week and a half for this project.
  • Take pictures as you go!

Thursday, Oct. 5th: Project 2 work time

  • Quick note on ergonomics grade for the final—just be sure to label things so that users other than you know how to use your device and you should be able to get all of those points.
  • The technical performance grade wants your project to function so if you’re left with the choice between a high-aim thing that doesn’t work, and a medium-aim thing that does work, go for the medium one!
  • Remember to take pictures as you go for your Project 2 final documentation.
  • Project 2 work day.

Tuesday, Oct. 10th: Project 2 final work session

  • Brief introduction of Thursday’s crit format:
    • Everyone at one big table, students + guest critiquers
    • 10 minutes total per person
    • Spend about the first two minutes giving a quick demo (note: demo mode is a good idea!)
      • Show whatever you can—if it’s not fully working, show what is working. If it’s not working at all, show what it might do if it were working. The more you show your audience, the more feedback it’s possible for them to give you.
    • Remainder of your time slot will be for verbal and written feedback
  • Documentation will be due on Thursday, Oct. 26 (Thursday after break)
  • Remember to take pictures as you go!

Thursday, Oct. 12th: Project 2 critique

  • Rotation of all presenting students, about 10 minutes each
  • Verbal and written feedback from fellow students and invited guest critics
  • Written feedback is recorded on this Google Doc (document only available to class members)

Tuesday, Oct. 24th: Catch-up Project 2 presentations, DSLR tutorial, Final project introduction

  • Two catch-up Project 2 presentations
  • Discussion of grades—how is specs grading going? Live survey in class.
  • Final project introduced!
  • Project 2 documentation due date pushed back: now due a week from today, Tuesday, Oct. 31st
  • “Telephone” Screening and talkback with directors tonight at the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry (CFA room 111), 5–8pm
  • Class on Thursday 10/26 is a field trip to CLASS
    • Their address is 1400 South Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
    • You can meet us at Forbes and Morewood at noon for our field trip on the 61B, or arrange for your own transportation if you prefer
    • We will take a tour of their facility, meet the clients we’ll have for our final project, and see some assistive technologies they have available for people to borrow and use
    • We intend to leave there in time for you to get back to campus by 1:50pm
  • Homework assigned: Reading and discussion post about disability (see Canvas for details)

Thursday, Oct. 26th: field trip to CLASS

  • Meet at bus stop on Forbes and Morewood to take 61B to CLASS
  • While there, get introduction to the organization, their spaces and facilities, and do a quick design challenge with our design clients
  • Final teams are announced.

Tuesday, Oct. 31st: no class

  • Class does not meet to give students time to meet with their design clients if they so choose.

Thursday, Nov. 2nd: Interview debriefing

  • Discussion of how the interviews went
  • Teams meet with Zach and Sejal to discuss their ideation progress
  • Work time for remainder of class

Tuesday, Nov. 7th: Democracy Day (no class)

Thursday, Nov. 9th: Prototype work time

  • Prototype is due in one week!
  • Going over the prototype assignment and expectations
  • Work time for great majority of class

Tuesday, Nov. 14th: Prototype work time

  • Grades are as far as I’m aware entirely current; let me know if I owe you anything
  • Prototype critique is Thursday 11/16 during class
  • Please be sure to build out your slides as is appropriate
  • Is anybody changing their team names?
  • Remember to take pictures as you go!

Thursday, Nov. 16th: Prototype critique

  • Each team presents from a slide deck for ~8 minutes
  • Balance of class time is spent in conversation/consultation with design clients

Tuesday, Nov. 21st: Final project planning

  • Prototype debrief
  • Discussion of final planning Gantt chart
  • Work time
  • Any materials orders should be placed very soon!

Tuesday, Nov. 28th: Final work time

  • Ryan McKelvey, IDeATe’s Academic Coordinator, joins us to talk about the end of semester showcase on December 13th, which I’d encourage you to participate in!
  • Work time for final project; next Thursday 12/7 is the final crit
  • Remember to take pictures as you go!

Thursday, Nov. 30th: Penultimate work day

  • Please let me know if you have any faculty or staff members you’d like to invite to our final crit next week
  • Be sure to come on time for the final crit
  • Work day—take pictures as you go!

Tuesday, Dec. 5th: Final work day

  • December 13th final IDeATe showcase: I encourage you to show off your stuff! Fill this form if you’re interested
  • Project 2 documentation updates are regraded.
  • Please come on time for Thursday’s crit! It is not open to the public—only invited guests. We’ve got seven yeses so far.
  • Review of final project rubrics and presentation document
  • Take pictures as you go!
  • Breaking, in-class announcement: final crit will be upstairs in Studio B in Hunt Library (glass walled classroom on the first floor)