MassMind Classes (from easy to advanced)

*note: Class presentations are open source, and you are free to copy and use them. We can provide an instructor to present these classes online  and help you collect the materials at your location after hours or weekends. Prices reflect materials cost only. No instructor cost if at least 10 students attend. More individual instruction to be negotiated.
 

• Plastics casting with 3D printed molds. Mold your own glowing heart, skull, etc... from natural, reusable, low temp thermoplastic; light it up with an LED and coin battery. Learn to quickly form multiple objects from low cost molds. Pictures. $3 (10 K-12 and up) Combines nicely with Electronics Intro class as the throwie can light up the cast object making it a "Glowie". We can also teach mold making with Oogoo (a low cost rubber based on hardware store 100% silicone caulk mixed with half as much corn starch and a little paint). Or you can cast with Oogoo from a 3D printed mold. 20160107,
   
• Collaboration - Google Docs / Drive and how to use it to collaborate on the internet. $0 (10 to 30 middle school and up)
   
• Video Game Programming in Scratch (A visual block language)
   
• Internet: Web / HTML / Javascript* / IOT Intro $0 (up to 20 middle school and up) See also JavaScript Programming (a more advanced class)
  • Intro to Web pages / HTML - Learn how to make a web page with HTML and Javascript (HTML5)
  • Intro to Web apps - Learn how to make a portable HTML5 web page that can be installed as an app on any SmartPhone.
  • HTML5 web apps interfacing to the physical world.
    *Javascript is one of the most sought after programming languages.^ ^
     
• Electronics Intro - Basics of electricity, LED's, batteries, current limiting resistors. Make an LED Throwie $2 (up to 20 K-12 and up) Combines nicely with plastic casting class, or make Pocket LED flashlights with this great activity by Denise Santoro, or LED Popup cards.
  • Electronics 201 - Breadboarding circuits. Covers: Electricity, Current, Voltage, Resistance, Ohms law, Circuits, Schematics, Breadboards, Wires, Resistors, LEDs, Switches, Motors. $20 (5-10 middle school and up)

• Soldering - Learn how to solder electronic circuits.
  • Soldering 101 - Basic Technique $2 (5-10 middle school and up)
  • Soldering 102 - Build a Makerbot badge $5 (5-10 middle school and up)
  • Soldering 201 - Full instruction, and build a regulated power supply for a PC interface card $10 (5-10 high school and up)

• Digital Logic Intro - How one simple (NAND) logic gate can be used to build every computing function. Learn how machines think! $0 (30 middle school and up, requres Internet Explorer with Java enabled for student participation, but can be presented from the instructors station only)
   
• Arduino - Learn how to connect, program, and interface the world to a small Arduino clone. Make lights blink and pulse, sense light levels, and (extra cost/requirements) make things move with servos! Includes instructions for connecting to many devices in the real world. Automate!
  • Cheap Intro with AdaFruit Trinket, $10 (take soldering first and pay $18 to include servos) (10 middle school and up)
  • Arduino Intro with AdaFruit Trinket Pro (Arduino Uno clone) - $15 (take soldering first and pay $25 to include servos) (10 middle school and up)

• Cardboard Combat Robots with the ESP-8266. Ultra low cost (~$15) robot, controled via WiFi connection from your smart phone with a built in Web server, and Javascript based GUI. Part 1, 2, and 3. To avoid the Arduino IDE setup (parts 1 and 3), and the soldering (part 2) you can also just purchase the Boffinboard from Addicore.com.
   
• Raspberry Pi Intro - Connect and program your Raspberry Pi computer - $0 without the RasPi, $80 for a Model B w/ power supply, wifi, case, cables. ^. NOT including monitor, keyboard, mouse. Venue must have wifi with accessble router. (10 senior high school and up)
   
• Introduction to 3D printing - how to take a design file (.STL) and slice it for printing including printer tuning and troubleshooting. (10 high school and up) The 3D printed object can then be used to make an Oogoo mold for quick reproduction of additional copies in thermoplastic, epoxy, or other riged plastics. Or you can 3D print the mold directly and cast with Oogoo^, or other flexible materials. To make metal parts, print a positive in PLA, make a mold from plaster^ or casting sand, and poor in molten metal to burn away the plastic, or make a two part mold and remove the original before casting.
   
• Introduction to OpenSCAD - Coding Reality: Basics of designing real physical objects with a programming language. $0 (20 senior high school and up).
  
  For a more traditional CAD system see FreeCad
   
• Introduction to G-Code for 3D Printing - Advanced class in how G-Code controls 3D printers, what the codes mean, and how to write custom G-Code for tricks! $0 (10 senior high school and up)
   
• Motion control - Connect your computer to the real world and make it move with servos and stepper motors. $50 (10 senior high school and up)
  
• JavaScript Programming Completely free online class. See also Internet: Web / HTML / Javascript* / IOT Intro (a less complex class)
   
• Using GIT version control and using the GitHub web interface.
   
• Lemons to embedded solutions: Complexity and noise in the world of embedded engineering and how to make it work for you $0 (10 senior high school and up, after programming and electronics 101)
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Measurement Errors - How to make them... or not.
  • Signal Noise - A very common problem.
  • Extra, unused pins
  • The Read, Modify, Write mistake
     
• Advanced robotics with JavaScript Available online via Github repo with instructor feedback through raising Issues. Access to some robotic systems will depend on local purchase of supplies. In most cases, simulations can be used instead.
   
• Cisco ASA 5505 / 5500 Series Setup Basic setup and configuration of a firewall / router for a small server system. $0 (5 senior high and up, after Soldering, Internet, Raspberry Pi)
   
• AI / Machine Learning:
  • Rapid Automation and its Effect on Human Worth $0 (High School to College level) A Seminar on the Advantages, Dangers, and Effects of Automation at the pace we are experiencing it today.
  • Machine Learning: $0 (College level, after Algebra, Programming) Technical lecture on how Machine Learning actually works.
     
• Introduction to Bioinformatics for UCSD Extension. A brief introduction to the history, key biological concepts, and promise of Bioinformatics, covering Sequence Alignment, Genomics, Proteomics, Transcriptomics, and Systems Biology. Special attention is also given to the role of Machine Learning in future research, and the Ethical Issues and Future directions of this exciting field.
   
• Water Conservation: Basic presentation on the lowest cost (mostly free) ways to use significantly less water automatically. $0 (any number of adults / homeowners) Sections can be expanded
  • Grey water
  • Rain Catchment / Swales
  • Automated plant watering (coming soon)

Interested? Have a space and a group that wants to learn after work hours? Contact me: spamBondFig@spam@ at @spam@gmail.com or spamJamesNewton@spam@ at @spam@MassMind.org

In development:

Other good online courses:

• Why airplanes fly, how much energy is required, and how to find the best speed
  http://www.wired.com/2012/10/can-we-build-a-more-efficient-airplane-not-really-says-physics/
  
• http://code.org/ Very basic intro to programming
   
• http://euclidthegame.com/Tutorial/ Geometery is very important to physically making things. E.g. layout out lines to cut.
  
• http://makezine.com/2015/04/01/installing-building-arduino-sketch-5-microcontroller/ The $5 WiFi uC ESP-8266 can be programmed as easily as an Arduino.
  
• http://www.theeducatorsspinonit.com/2015/01/stem-activities-for-kids.html#_a5y_p=3186570
  
• http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/getting-started-with-arduino-a-beginners-guide/
  
• http://sagebrush4hrobotics.blogspot.com/ An excellent series of classes / learning guides by a local (Lakeside) 4H leader.
  
• https://github.com/jjsnyder619/Simplest_arduino_robot Great idea for a simple Arduino based robot.

See also:

• Http://thisdavej.com IOT via Raspberry Pi and Node.js+
• http://hackaday.com/2016/02/09/learn-resin-casting-techniques-duplicating-plastic-parts/ Detailed mold making and resin casting tutorial.
• https://www.facebook.com/cienciaomg/videos/1499402847056000/ Make a pretty good hand out of straws, string, and tape. Perfect for use with a servo.
• https://learn.adafruit.com/led-eye-prosthetic-tutorial?view=all LED Eye SMT soldering.

Events:

• 20131207 First San Diego Mini Maker Faire, Core Team, and "Robots of MassMind.org" exibit
• 20140518 Internet: Web / HTML / Javascript / IOT Intro at vistauu.org/
• 20151002-03  San Diego Maker Faire. Maker Lead for the Air and Space Museum.
• 20151106 Plastic casting at Escondido Barns and Nobel Mini Maker Faire
• 20151112 Soldering 201 at Seek Robotics.
• 20151114 Air Rockets at Escondido Tamale Fest
• 20151123 Machine Learning part 2 at Nerd Club
• 20151205 Plastic casting at STEAM Maker Fest
• 20151231 Plastic casting class at Nerdy New Year.
• 20160104 Rasberry Pi class at Nerd Club
• 20160107 Plastic casting / Mold making class at Creator Space Temecula
• 20160119 DroidScript/BusPirate presentation at San Diego Robotics Club. (Will become part of the next electronics class)
• 20160125 Stringing Marionettes at Nerd Club
• 20160303 Arduino / RC Servo, Steppers, and Motors at Seek Robotics.
• 20160317 3D Printer Tech presentation at Northop Grumman
• 20160404 We (very probably) live in a Video Game at Nerd Club
• 20160420 Stringing Marionettes at Nerd Club
• 20160430 Adafruit Mini 8x8 LED Matrix w/I2C Backpack Eye animation at Seek Robotics.
• 20160509 Soldering 102 for San Diego Maker Faire at the San Diego Main Library
• 20160514 Air Rockets at Space Day
• 20160517 P.I.D. ling around with Servos at Robot Club
• 20160707 Glowie casting / Mold making at Seek Robotics.
• 20160816 Soldering 102 at Chalice UU.
• 20160823 Glowie casting / Mold making at NerdCon2016
• 20161105 Air Rockets at Escondido Tamale Fest, also "Our Sun Cooks" demo and Our Planet Recyling junk art.
• 20170301 Intro to G-CODE at Northop Grumman
• 20170328 Glowie Casting at March Mingle
• 20170506 Glowie Casting at Maker EdX
• 20170513 Programming in Scratch at Scratch day! 
• 20170617-18 North County Maker Faire lead organizer.
• 20170820 Glowie Casting, Soldering 102 - Build a Makerbot badge, and Paint a Prius at Palomar UU Fellowship - vistauu.org/
• 20171007-08 San Diego Maker Faire "Robots of MassMind.org" exibit.
• 20171110 Paper Circuits Military Thank you Cards and Air Rockets at Escondido Tamale Fest (veterans day)
• 20180406-08 Gaslight Gathering Glowie Casting, Dexter Robot, others..
• 20180505 Paper Circuits at Cinco de Mayo in Old Town
• 20180616-17 Soldering 102 at North County Mini Maker Faire. And lead organizer of the faire.
• 20180724-0819 Program Your Future for UCSD Extension at Malcom X library ^
• 20181006-07 Glowie Casting, Dexter Robot, others.. at San Diego Maker Faire 2018
• 20181103 Air Rockets at Escondido Tamale Fest
• 20190302 Glowie casting at EXPO day for Sally Ride Science.
• 201903 Cardboard Combat Robots at SD Colab (Part 1, 2, and 3)
• 20190406 Video Game Programming in Scratch for UCSD Extension / Sally Ride Science at Mission Valley Library
• 20190413 Glowie casting / Mold making at Gaslight Gathering
• 20190413 Video Game Programming in Scratch for UCSD Extension / Sally Ride Science at Malcom X Library
• 20190615-16 North County Mini Maker Faire. Lead Organizer.
• 20190624-0719 Advanced Robotic Programming with Javascript for UCSD Extension Junior Academy
• 20190725 Rapid Automation and its Effect on Human Worth at MaxMan Institute.
• 20190730 Video Game Programming in Scratch for MaxMan Institute
• 20190806 Video Game Programming in Scratch for MaxMan Institute
• 20191102 Air Rockets at Tamale Fest
• 20200307 Glowie casting at EXPO day for Sally Ride Science.
• 20200713-17 Advanced Robotic Programming with Javascript for UCSD Extension Junior Academy
• 20210802-06 Advanced Robotic Programming with Javascript for UCSD Extension Junior Academy

• 20220324-0819 Program Your Future HTML/JavaScript for UCSD Extension
• 20220122 Animating Art at San Diego Colab "Discover a VERY low cost, fully open source, easy to use system for animating physical objects."
• 20220319 Presented about Open Source Robotic Arms at Seattle Robotics Society
• 20220328-0606 HTML/JavaScript for UCSD Extension (async class)
• 202205 Judge/Mentor for Hackaday Prize "Planet Friendly Power"
• 20220611-15 Robotic Programming with Javascript for UCSD Extension Junior Academy
• 20220616 Presented about WireBots at Seattle Robotics Society
• 20220723-0803 Judge for Hackaday Prize "Hack it Back" (retro computing)
• 20220730 UCSD Library Next: Internet Programming and Web Design
• 20220813 UCSD Library Next: Animation and Video Game Using Scratch
• 20221106 Presented with others at Hackaday SuperCon.
• 20230329-0607 Futures: HTML5 and JavaScript CSE-90025 (async class)
• 20230521 Facilitated a display for SDMG at Escondido Streen Faire (knives and art).
• 20230617 UCSD Library Next: Internet Programming and Web Design
• 20230627 UCSD Library Next: Internet Programming and Web Design
• 20220710-14 Robotic Programming with Javascript for UCSD Extension Junior Academy
• 20230925-1204 Futures: Introduction to Robotics with JavaScript CSE-90103 (async class)

Upcoming:

• None. Amazing isn't it? I make GOOD money despite not having a degree and I can't give away the experience I've gained. Shrug.

PICList 2025 contributors: o List host: MIT, Site host massmind.org, Top posters @none found - Page Editors: James Newton, David Cary, and YOU! * Roman Black of Black Robotics donates from sales of Linistep stepper controller kits. * Ashley Roll of Digital Nemesis donates from sales of RCL-1 RS232 to TTL converters. * Monthly Subscribers: Gregg Rew. on-going support is MOST appreciated! * Contributors: Richard Seriani, Sr.

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