Programming and Electricity Work
Our assignment was to finish python and work on electronic experiments.
Python
For the past two or three weeks, we have been learning how to write and use Python. We learned off the site; Code Academy. This program was a thirteen hour program, but it took most kids 20 hours and up to finish it; including me. In programming, we had to learn how to use variables, strings, integers, boolean operators, binary counting, lists, dictionaries, functions, loops, range, classes, input, and outputs.
evidence here: http://www.codecademy.com/en/tracks/python?jump_to=50240404052990000202031a
evidence here: http://www.codecademy.com/en/tracks/python?jump_to=50240404052990000202031a
Reflection
Coding was the hardest thing I've ever done. It took like 25 hours to finish this program. Coding made me learn patience because if you had one word misspelled or not capitalized, you would get it wrong. The only problem was that I always made these mistakes and I wouldn't realize it until 10 minutes later. Another thing it taught me was that there's always a easier route but you have to try the problem for yourself first. In Python, there was a Q & A Forum that held all the answers to all the codes. It was very tempting to use the Q & A Forum but I had to force myself to only use it when the time was appropriate. Another thing it taught me was I have to read the instructions a bit more because usually when I do things, I rush right into them and don't bother to read what to do. That leads me to my next point. It taught me problem solving on a new level. It taught me problem solving because it made me go back into my code and find all the mistakes I made like if it was and indentation error, spelling error, etc. In coding I only got to 95%. One thing I could work on a bit better is time management because I had to rush on the last day to get the remaining 10%. In Python, I had to ask people for a lot of help since I did not understand it that well.
Electronics Experiment
In our Electronics exploration,we learned about series and parallel circuits. We also learned how to read resistors by their colored bands. Another thing we learned how to use are multimeters, poteniometers, capacitors, transistors, and LCD lights. We first started learning how to use electronics by using wires and 9 volt batteries an open circuit. This taught us how series and parallel circuits work in a easier way. During these experiments, we used light bulbs to help us hypothesize on whether or not they would get bright or dimmer. Later on, after pretty much everyone was confident with electronics, we moved onto breadboards. Breadboard were really easy to me because it all made sense, unlike coding. With a breadboard, the first and last 2 rows were connected up and down and the stuff in between were connected left to right. Using the breadboards, we were able to fit more stuff into it on a much smaller scale.
Parallel Circuit- is when the circuit branches out to other things
Series Circuit - when the circuit does not branch out and everything stays on the same path
Multimeter- it measures all the types of electricity in a circuit (ohms, voltage, amps etc)
Capacitor- They hold and release energy almost like a battery
Transistor- A switch or amplifier
Parallel Circuit- is when the circuit branches out to other things
Series Circuit - when the circuit does not branch out and everything stays on the same path
Multimeter- it measures all the types of electricity in a circuit (ohms, voltage, amps etc)
Capacitor- They hold and release energy almost like a battery
Transistor- A switch or amplifier
Reflection
I thought the electronics were a lot more fun than the coding, but that's just a personal opinion. In electronics, I learned a lot of new things and it was a great refresher upon what I already knew. I have a brief history on coding when I was younger but that's about it. The most I knew how to do was make a open circuit. The concept of a bread board was completely new to me. The electronics experiments taught me that there's quite a bit of stuff I don't know about. For example, I had no idea what a transistor and a capacitor was. Somethings I could maybe work more on are paying more attention to the directions because I built most of the things based off a picture instead of reading the directions. Another thing would have to be concentrating more; I tend to procrastinate a lot so I get off topic easily. Two things I think I did well were understanding the material given and working hard on it.