Introduction to Arduino

Outcome: You’ll be fully set up and confident enough to start building immediately.

• What Arduino is (and isn’t) so you don’t waste time
• What you need to get started (simple kit checklist)
• Install + connect your board (first upload)
• Breadboard/wiring basics that prevent “random failures”
• Multimeter basics + the most common beginner mistakes (and quick fixes)

Outcome: You’ll understand power and pins enough to wire safely and correctly.

• Polarity (+/–) explained simply
• Power sources: USB vs battery vs wall adapter
• Arduino pinout explained (digital / analog / 5V / 3.3V / GND)
• Series vs parallel (only what matters)
• Power requirements (quick rules) + common power failures

Outcome: You’ll write your first real Arduino code and understand what it’s doing.

• setup() vs loop() explained (no confusion)
• Serial Monitor for printing values + debugging errors
• Variables, if/else, loops, timing (delay vs millis intro)
• Read a button (digital input)
• Control an LED (digital output)
• Functions so your code stays clean (less copy/paste)
• Mini build: your first “real” program

Outcome: This is where it becomes fun — you’ll build a stack of projects you can expand.

You’ll build:

• Press-to-light button + LED
• Tap toggle light (like a real switch)
• Doorbell (button + buzzer + LED)
• Reaction time game
• One-button memory game
• Knob controls blink speed (analog input)
• Knob + button + buzzer timer
• Hold-to-arm safety switch
• Relay basics
• Relay + external power controlling a DC motor

Outcome: You’ll build something original, share it, and know what to learn next.

• Guided challenge: combine inputs + outputs into your own mini project
• Join my Discord and get your course role (so you can post builds + get help)
• How to share your code properly so troubleshooting is easy
• What to learn next (Intermediate roadmap)