Category: Technology, Computer Science, and Arduinos

This will explore posts related to general technology and computer science lesson plans.

For an intro to technology, check out my Technology Basics page. If kids need a break, they can also play some technology games that teach them skills.

For a deeper dive, check out my Computer Science Homepage!

I also like Arduinos, and you can check out some lesson plans on those here.

Finally, I have a few resources on teaching Github to High school students.

Add As A Trusted Google Source

Posted on October 7, 2015May 30, 2025 by Pat Costa

Arduino Piezo Buzzer Project

You will need 4 wires and a Piezo buzzer.

Connect the wires as shown to complete a circuit with the Piezo buzzer.

The negative wire should go to the digital ground pin while the positive wire should go to digital pin number 8 and positive should be in ground. If that does not work, place the positive wire in the 5v power pin.

To code the Piezo buzzer you will need to create a tab or file that your main Arduino code can access. You should call this new tab pitches.h

To create a new tab click on the arrow located all the way to the right and select New Tab.

Name this tab pitches.h and insert the new code. Use the code located here to cut and paste into a pitches.h tab

Arduino Notes

Then select the your original sketch (also known as your code) and insert the following code by cutting and pasting it.

Melody for Arduino

Code Challenges:

Figure out how to place the melody on a loop
Figure out how to change the melody notes
Figure out how to change the kind of notes
Figure out how to adjust the delay between each note.
Can you play a recognizable tune? (Note: delete everything in your pitches.h file and insert all the following code into the Arduino Main sketch). You do not need any resistors and make sure your positive wire is in pin 13 and your negative wire is in pin 3.

The Code for a Recognizable Tune

Posted on October 7, 2015March 13, 2023 by Pat Costa

Intro to Internet Privacy

Intro to Internet Privacy
Directions:

Visit the following and link and address the questions. Be sure to navigate to each page on the link.

Internet Safety Link
Questions:
1. Why do people believe they are safer online than they actually are?
2. Explain the following internet threats
A. Malware
B. Phishing
C. Virus
D. Clickjacking
E. Browser Hijacking
F. SPAM
G. Trojan Horse
3. What are three ways your internet privacy and safety can be violated?
4. Explain the following internet safety terms
A. Meme
B. Troll
C. Sockpuppet
D. Avatar
5. Google and Bing yourself using quotes. If information appears you do not like you can request Google or Bing to remove it.
You may need to have an account with Google or Microsoft in order to request a removal.

Google Contant/Info Removal

Bing Content/Info Removal

Note: If you identify any images or information contained in the search you do not like you can ask Google and Bing to remove them. Most search engines allow for that to happen BUT it may take several weeks before they are completely removed.

6 Ask yourself, how are your privacy settings on your social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat etc? Are they open for anyone or just “Friends”?

Posted on October 5, 2015May 30, 2025 by Pat Costa

Arduino Functions

Directions:
Visit the following web address and complete the questions. You just need the answers.

A. Arduino DigitalWrite Function
1. What is the name of the function?
2. What does it describe (ie: What does it do?)
3. How do you write it (ie: What is it’s Syntax?)
4. What is it’s parameters (ie: What information can you put inside of it?)
5. When would you use the function?
6. Create an example digitalwrite function

B. Arduino AnalogWrite Function
1. What is the name of the function?
2. What does it describe (ie: What does it do? HINT: Read the first two sentences)
3. How do you write it (ie: What is it’s Syntax?)
4. What is it’s parameters (ie: What information can you put inside of it?)
5. When would you use the function?
6. Create an example analogwrite function.

C. Arduino PinMode Function
1. What is the name of the function?
2. What does it describe (ie: What does it do?)
3. How do you write it (ie: What is it’s Syntax?)
4. What is it’s parameters (ie: What information can you put inside of it?)
5. When would you use the function?
6. Create an example pinMode function.

D. Arduino digitalRead Function
1. What is the name of the function?
2. What does it describe (ie: What does it do?)
3. How do you write it (ie: What is it’s Syntax?)
4. What is it’s parameters (ie: What information can you put inside of it?)
5. When would you use the function?
6. Create an example digitalRead function.

Posted on September 28, 2015May 30, 2025 by Pat Costa

Arduino Quiz

Use the word-bank to match the term to the correct description

LED

Transistor

DC Motor

Servo Motor

Resistor

1___________used to restrict electrical current

2__________type of motor that angles

3__________amplifies or boosts electrical power

4__________a type of light that takes 1.5 volts of power

5__________type of motor that spins

Examine the Arduino Board and match the number with the Arduino component. Use the word bank to help. Note: You will NOT use all the words in the word bank

Digital Pins

Power Pins

Voltage Regulator

Reset Button

6_________________________(answer for number 1 in picture)

7_________________________(answer for number 2 in picture)

Arduino and Breadboard Practical Exercise: Look at the Arduino and Breadboard and answer the following questions. Note: The lack of power in the Arduino board does not constitute a correct answer.

Picture 1: Close-up

Picture 2: Far away

8 Identify one problem of this Breadboard set-up. Be specific as possible:

9 Identify another problem of this Breadboard set-up. Be specific as possible:

10 Explain what you would need to do to correct this Breadboard set-up. Be specific as possible.

Posted on July 24, 2014July 1, 2025 by Pat Costa

Crawlspace: 5 Important Considerations

My wife and I purchased a property here in Virginia that came with a crawlspace. Now, for those of you who are not from Virginia, houses here rarely come with basements. The houses are either built on a slab (a concrete pad that serves as the foundation with the frame built off of it) or a crawlspace (a space beneath the house that one must crawl under). Crawlspaces exist because the house has been elevated off the ground through the use of concrete blocks (thus creating a space beneath the house).