Want to learn
something about electronics, but don't know where to start? Electronics for Absolute
Beginners is a one day course that I originally designed
for the women's arts and technology group MzTEK. We had an
excellent first run in January 2010 with lots of enthusiasm, and
considerable skill from all the participants.
The course introduces the key electronic components and tries to give
an intuitive feel for how circuits work. It provides plenty of
opportunity to try experiments on the circuits suggested and should
give people enough understanding to feel they can build and modify
circuits in future.
Each stage of the course introduces new ideas that build and develop
throughout the day. There are lots of fun circuits ending up with an
electronic organ and a chain-light sequencer.
If you would like me to run the course for your group or organization
then please contact me via the guestbook
or blog to discuss options.
Electronics
for Absolute Beginners Course Notes
(Open Office Format)
Electronics for Absolute Beginners Course Notes
(PDF Format)
Electronics for Absolute Beginners Parts List
(PDF Format)
Video of an
organ circuit like the one in the course.
At
MzTEK in Jan 2010 someone (sorry I didn't catch her name) raised the
excellent idea of linking the organ to the light sequencer from the
course. Here's my demo of the idea.
Want to develop your electronics skills further? Here are some
suggestions:
My course
to build an Atari Punk
Console - an
introduction to the more practical side of building electronics.
Make:
Electronics - new book
out from O'Reilly. Getting storming reviews and very similar in concept
to this course. Also available on amazon.co.uk. One brave
beginner is writing a blog as they
are building the circuits.
Make
also had a very good series
of videos about
different electronic components. Good refresh for those that have done
the course or introduction for those that haven't.
The Art
of Electronics is the classic text book for those that want
to do deep in to the subject without having their head explode! It's
packed with information, but is a surprisingly readable. Probably not
suitable for absolute beginners though. Buy a copy when you've built a
few circuits and want to know what's really going on.