This document provides an overview of maker skills and programming concepts that can be taught in a library setting. It discusses various circuitry and programming tools that allow patrons to explore concepts like electricity, circuits, and coding in a hands-on way. The document advocates for libraries to provide a safe environment for exploration and failure, and to give patrons access to tools that can spark interest in fields like engineering and help launch the next big startup.

1. Building Maker
Skills
B r i a n P i c h m a n | E v o l v e P r o j e c t

2. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?
• Circuits
– littleBits
– CircuitScribe
– LightUp
• Simple Robotics
– Cubelets
• Building Block Programming
– Ozobot
– Bitsbox
• Programmable Robotics
– Finch
– Dash and Dot
– Sphero

3. TODAY…WE ARE TAKING RISKS

4. TODAY…WE WILL FAIL IN ORDER TO INNOVATE

5. HOUSE KEEPING:
• Download on iOS Devices:
– Hopscotch
• Download on Any Device:
– Sphero

6. MAKER SKILLS
DON’T NEED TO BE TECHNICAL
• Building Creativity
• Building Empathy
• Building Collaboration
• ….More Ideas to Be Illustrated with Cats!

12. YOU ARE MAKING IF YOU ARE DOING
THIS:

13. MEMBERSHIP MAKER SPACES
• Find Your Local Maker Space:
• https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/

14. SPACE LAB, MOKENA, IL

15. PUMPING STATION: ONE – CHICAGO,
IL

16. FOOD FOR THOUGHT
• You do not need a dedicated space to be a “maker library”
– Share resources across other libraries
• You do not need to buy all the latest and greatest technology
– You can start off small and grow

17. 17
• What Do Making In A Library?
• Safe To Fail
Environment
• Gateways To New
Ideas
• Provide New Tools
and Resources
• The Next Big
Entrepreneurial
Startup
• In school,
your younger
patrons are
not given
opportunities
to learn by
failure or
experimentati
on
• You can spark
interest into fields
such as
engineering,
programming,
business
development…and
more
• Libraries are about
providing access.
These tools are not
always easily
accessible for our
patrons.
• What if your library
helped launch the
next big super star
in the competitive
tech community?
SO WHY IN A LIBRARY?

18. OUR MAKER TECH SHOULD HAVE…
Low Floors and High
Ceilings

19. EXPANDING OUR
VALUE
• No l onger be j ust about books
• Creating stories
• Being the community anchor
• Gateway to new opportunities and
experiences
• Moving f rom the “Grocery Store” to
the “Kitchen”

20. ELECTRICITY
AND CIRCUITS

21. WHY IS ELECTRICITY
IMPORTANT

22. ELECTRICITY AND CIRCUITS
• Powers everything we do
– Computers
– Cars
– Lights

23. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
• Helped people understand the
principles of electricity

24. THOMAS EDISON
• Helped invent the light bulb

25. NIKOLA TESLA
• best known for his contributions to the
design of the modern alternating
current (AC) electricity supply system.

26. WHAT IS ELECTRICITY
• A form of energy
• Created from a flow of tiny particles called “electrons” through a conductive material
– This flow of electric charge is called a “current”
– Currents are measured in units of “amps”

27. WHAT IS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT
• A circuit is an electrical device that provides a pathway for electricity to flow.
• A complete circuit is where all the components of a circuit are joined and there are
no openings in the path.
• An incomplete circuit is where the pathway for electricity is broken and therefore
electricity cannot flow.

29. CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS – PLANNING
CIRCUITS• When planning
circuits, people can
draw them using
universally accepted
symbols:

33. • When a switch is open (off),
there is a gap in the circuit.
Electricity cannot travel
around the circuit.
• When a switch is closed (on), it
makes the circuit complete.
Electricity can travel around
the circuit.

34. RESISTOR
• A resistor can change the amount of current in a circuit
• In a variable resistor, the resistance can be changed.

36. RESISTANCE
•All components in electrical circuits have
resistance – even the wires!
•The higher the resistance, the harder it is for
current to flow.
•Low resistance means more current can flow.

37. VARIABLE RESISTORS
Turn the dial here for
low resistance higher resistance

38. TYPES OF CIRCUIT
• SERIES CIRCUITS • PARALLEL CIRCUITS

39. • The components are connected end-to-end, one
after the other.
• They make a simple loop for the current to flow
round.
SERIES CIRCUITS
• If one bulb ‘blows’ it breaks the whole circuit and all
the bulbs go out.

40. PARALLEL CIRCUITS
• The current has a choice of routes (paths).
• The components are connected side by side.
• If one bulb ‘blows’ there would still be a complete circuit
to the other bulb so it stays lit.

41. MEASURING CURRENT
• Electric current is measured in amps (A) using
an ammeter connected in series in the circuit.
A

42. MEASURING CURRENT
A A
THIS IS HOW WE DRAW AN AMMETER IN A
CIRCUIT.
• SERIES CIRCUIT • PARALLEL CIRCUIT

43. MEASURING CURRENT
SERIES CIRCUIT
PARALLEL CIRCUIT
• current is the same
at all points in the
circuit.
6A 6A
6A
• current is shared
between the
components
4A4A
2A
2A

44. CHANGING NUMBER OF
BATTERIES/CELLS
• Adding more batteries to a simple circuit will increase the electrical energy, which will
make a bulb brighter.

45. CHANGING NUMBER OF BULBS
• Adding more bulbs to a simple circuit will make the bulbs dimmer.

46. CHANGING LENGTH OF WIRES
 Lengthening the wires in a simple circuit will make the bulb dimmer
 Longer the wire the more the resistance so less electric current can flow and the bulb
dimmer

47. CHANGING THICKNESS
OF WIRES
 Thicker the wire in a simple circuit will make the bulb brighter.
 Thicker the wire less the resistance so more electric current can flow

48. ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR
 All metal can conduct electricity but not all are
good electrical conductors
 One of the best conductor is copper thats why it
commonly used for making wire
Copper
Plastic or rubber to
insulate the electric
current

49. ELECTRICAL INSULATOR
 Most of non metal can’t conduct electricity
 One of non metal that can conduct electricity is graphite
(pencil lead) or carbon

50. AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT INCLUDES
• Resistors – Reduce Flow
• Transistors – Amplify and switch signals
• Capacitors – store energy (a battery is NOT a capacitor)
• Inductors – Resist changes in current
• Electric signals can be amplified, computed, and move data.

51. TOOLS TO LEARN
• Circuit Scribe
• littleBits
• LightUp
• Hummingbird Kit

52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iACOQdR7euc
CIRCUIT SCRIBE (ELECTRONINKS)

53. 53
LITTLEBITS IN LIBRARIES

54. 54
LITTLEBITS IS INTERACTIVE
• Magnets bring the pieces together
• Incorporate littleBits with other materials
• All the pieces are interactive and intuitive
– A knob turns
– A button pushes
– A microphone receives

55. 55
LITTLEBITS ALLOWS DISCOVERY
• Making connections to electronics and interactions in the real world
• littleBits can be tinkered with, allowing for trial and error
– Seeing what works and what doesn’t work.
• Gateway to math and programming
– Order of Operations, Sequences, etc.
– Undecided student now wants to be an engineer

56. 56
LITTLEBITS ENCOURAGE
CREATION
• Using other materials you can build literally anything
• One school library combined 3D Printing and littleBits
– First, design a car in Sketchup and print it in 3D
– Mount littleBits modules into the car
– The team with the fastest car wins

57. 57
LITTLEBITS IS
COLLABORATIVE• When building, often times users will work together to build “the largest circuit” or the
“coolest thing”
• Makerspace Story
– Hotel Lobby + Two Sisters Who Always Fight + littleBits = “best part of our vacation was
‘circuit guy;’ first time our daughters got along while sharing”

58. 58
LITTLEBITS IS INNOVATIVE
• Breaks down technology into its simplest parts
– Power, Input, Output, Logic
• Provides an entry into hardware; which is typically a complex and advance field
– Can be intimidating to most individuals
• littleBits is gender neutral

60. ARDUINO
• Open source hardware ecosystem
• Microcontroller boards, shields
• “Easy” Programming environment
60

61. HUMMINGBIRD DUO
• Controller + Kit of parts
• Board contains:
– Easy connectors
– Circuitry for driving motors/servos
– Runs in tethered or Arduino mode
• Goal is to eliminate “bad hards”

62. HUMMINGBIRD DUO AND ARDUINO
62

63. LIGHTUP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=23&v=QokSrL76
91I

64. MAKEY-MAKEY
MSRP: $49.95
MaKey MaKey is an invention kit for the
21st century. Turn everyday objects into
touchpads and combine them with the
internet. It's a simple Invention Kit for
Beginners and Experts doing art,
engineering, and everything in between

65. S QUI SHY C I R CUI TS

66. S E W- ABLE C I R CUI TS

67. LET’S TALK
PROGRAMMING!

69. Coding is
the
gateway to
the future

70. WHAT IS COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING?
• A set of commands a computer understands – like a recipe.
• Computer programs can help cure diseases; drive cars; create video games; make
animated movies/graphics; build websites and apps; and much more.
• Basic coding concepts are used by most every program and most every programmer.
• To learn more visit http://www.bfoit.org/itp/Programming.html

71. WHY LEARN TO CODE?
• Why not?
• Learn the importance of clarity/brevity of expression.
• Be able to think and problem solve more accurately.
• Build something useful and maybe start a business.
• Have a better understanding of how technology works.
• Have fun!
• Do you think it is valuable to learn to code? Why? You are here today, so that is a good
sign. 

72. Read more at http://goo.gl/Hgy16A

73. Computer programming has a
reputation of being cryptic and too
complex for the average person;
however, when you get familiar with
basic programming logic you will see
patterns everywhere!

74. Describe in natural language how to make
a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

75. SOME GREAT RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
LEARN TO CODE

76. .com
Learn to code interactively, for free.

77. http://www.oeconsortium.org/

78. https://www.coursera.org/

79. https://www.codeavengers.com/

80. https://www.khanacademy.org

81. https://teamtreehouse.com/

82. https://www.codeschool.com/

83. HTTP://CODERDOJO.COM

84. SOME OTHER CODING
RESOURCES• Lightbot is a programming puzzle game that gives the user a one-to-one relationship with programming concepts.
Try it today at http://light-bot.com/!
• Hopscotch: Coding for Kids is an iPad programming language. Download it today at
https://www.gethopscotch.com/ .
• Code.org wants to bring Computer Science classes to every K-12 school. Check it out at http://code.org/ and find
some excellent computer programming tutorials.
• Scratch helps children create stories, games, animations, and also lets them share these projects with others around
the world. More info at http://scratch.mit.edu/.
• www.scratchjr.org is a free iPad app that brings coding to students as young as age five.
• www.kodable.com gives children opportunities to program in order to solve puzzles. http://www.allcancode.com is
similar.
• Visit Medium for a “2 minute read” listing other ideas and resources to help inspire children and teens to code.
• There are several MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) and other freely available resources that offer computer
programming classes. Coursera, Udacity, and Edx are great examples. Also, Khan Academy has some great
resources for kids and adults too!

85. WHAT IS A PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGE?
• A programming language is set of rules that provide a way of telling a computer:
– What operations to perform
– Communicating an algorithm
– Receives an input from the user and generates an output.
• A programming language is a system for describing a computation (math) or
algorithms (logic) in a machine-readable and human-readable form.
– Has words, symbols, and grammatical rules (natural language)
• Grammatical rules = Syntax
• Each language has a different set of syntax rules
– Has semantics (meaning)

86. WAYS TO PROGRAM
• Machine Language (Mechanical, Firmware, Drivers)
• Job Control, Shell Scripting, Text Processing
• GUI Programming (Graphical User Interface)
Types:
• Application Specific Programming
• Web Applications / Software Applications
– Front End Systems (what the users see)
– Back End Systems

87. • FORTRAN
– FORmula TRANslation.
– Developed at IBM in the mid-1950s.
• First programming language
– Designed for scientific and mathematical applications by scientists and engineers.
TRADITIONAL PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES

88. • COBOL
– Common Business Oriented Language.
– Developed in 1959.
– Typically used for business applications.
TRADITIONAL PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES (CONT’D.)

89. • BASIC
– Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
– Developed at Dartmouth College in mid 1960s.
– Developed as a simple language for students to write programs with which they
could interact through terminals.
TRADITIONAL PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES (CONT’D.)

90. • C
– Developed by Bell Laboratories in the early 1970s.
– Provides control and efficiency of assembly language
– Often used for system programs.
– UNIX is written in C.
TRADITIONAL PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES (CONT’D.)

91. • C++
– It is C language with additional features.
– Widely used for developing system and application software.
– Graphical user interfaces can be developed easily with visual programming tools.
– Windows Based
OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES

92. • JAVA
– An object-oriented language similar to C++ that eliminates lots of C++’s
problematic features
– Allows a web page developer to create programs for applications, called applets
that can be used through a browser.
– Objective of JAVA developers is that it be machine, platform and operating system
independent.
OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGES

93. • Scripting Languages
– JavaScript and VBScript
– Php and ASP
– Perl and Python
• Command Languages
– sh, csh, bash, cmd
SPECIAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

94. • HTML
– HyperText Markup Language.
– Used on the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW).
– Web page developer puts brief codes called tags in the page to indicate how the
page should be formatted.
• XML
– Extensible Markup Language.
– A language for defining other languages.
SPECIAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

95. CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSE
LANGUAGES
• Proprietary
– Microsoft Languages (C#, C++, Visual Basic)
– Oracle (Java)
• Open Source
– PHP
– Python
• Standardized Languages
– HTML
• Databases
– Microsoft SQL (Microsoft), MySQL (Open Source), NoSQL (now Apples)

97. A FEW BASIC PROGRAMMING COMPONENTS
(PRETTY MUCH REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE)
• Variables & Arrays
• Operators
• Flow Control
• Functions

98. VARIABLES & ARRAYS
• A variable is a bucket that holds one piece of information. A variable can change
value when
– Specific conditions are met
– Based on user input
• Examples (concept)
– $string_myhomelibrary = “Montgomery Library”;
– $numeric_variable= 100;
– $myname = “Brian”;

99. VARIABLES & ARRAYS
• An array is a type of variable (or bucket) that holds many pieces of information.
• Example (language doesn’t matter here; the concept does):
– $FavoriteCities = array(“Orlando”, “Boulder”, “Miami”)
• $FavoriteCities[0] holds “Orlando”
• $FavoriteCities [1] holds “Boulder”
– $States = array(“1” => “Prime”; “FL”=> “Florida”, “CO” => “Colorado”)
• $States[“FL”] holds “Florida”

100. OPERATORS
• Arithmetic
– +, -, *, / (add, subtract, multiply, divide)
• Assignment
– = (assign the value of 2 to the variable called v)
• $v = 2;
– += (“Add the value of 3 to the variable that already holds 1”)
• $v += 3; // $a now holds 5

101. FLOW CONTROL
• Very readable programming languages
– Sequence
– Choice (if then, if then else, if then else if)
– Continual

102. FLOW CONTROL - SEQUENCE
• Reads like a book, the instructions are executed in the same order they where given:
– OPEN the door
– WALK inside the room
– SIT on a chair
– PICKUP a book
– READ the book.

103. FLOW CONTROL - CHOICE
• With choice, instructions are executed based on variables, commands, outputs, etc.

104. FLOW CONTROL - CHOICE
• If Then
– if (something is true/conditions are met) {
• then do this
– }
• If Then Else
– Else: XYZ
– Starts the same as “If Then” but allows a result if condition is false
• Else If
• if (something is true/conditions are met) {
• then do this
– } elseif (another something is true/conditions are met) {
• then do this instead
– }

105. FLOW CONTROL - CONTINUAL
• With continual, instructions are executed based on variables, commands, outputs, etc … as
they remain true
• While (or repeat)
– while (something is true) {
• do something here
– }
• for
– for (something is true) {
• do something here
– }

106. FLOW CONTROL – PUTTING IT
TOGETHER
• 1) Sequence
– Go to the library
– Check out a book
– Read the book
– Return the book
• 2) Choice
– If you have a library card, you can check out books. Otherwise open a library card account.
• 3) Repeat
– Continue to read the book till there are no more pages.

107. FUNCTIONS
• A function is type of procedure or routine
– A function usually returns a value
– A procedure preforms an operation but typically doesn’t provide a value
• Most languages have pre-built or pre-defined functions in its library.
– For instance, the “delete” function means to “remove”. You don’t have to code what
“remove” does; only what to remove.

108. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE?
• Games
• Mobile Applications
• Web Applications
• Software Applications
• Databases

109. Source: https://www.udemy.com/

110. Source: https://www.udemy.com/

111. Source: https://www.udemy.com/

112. Source: https://www.udemy.com/

113. • When it comes to mechanics of the task, learning to
speak and use a programming language is in many
ways like learning to speak a human language
– you have to learn new vocabulary, syntax and semantics (new
words, sentence structure and meaning)
–require continual practice
THINGS TO CONSIDER

114. • Formerly: Run-time performance
– At one point, a well performing computer was costly, so
lightweight languages had to be used, concise commands,
and less “flashy” design
• Now: Life cycle (human) cost is more important
– Ease of use for both user and programmer
– Cost of maintenance (debugging, updates, etc)
WHAT DETERMINES A “RIGHT” LANGUAGE

115. .mit.edu
Scratch is a programming language for everyone. Create
interactive stories, games, music and art and share them
online.

116. BITSBOX
• Subscription Based – Programming App A Month
– Or can be bought in a kit:
– https://bitsbox.com/

117. HOPSCOTCH APP

119. PROGRAMMING
ROBOTS

120. C UB E LETS … MS R P :
$ 160
Cubelets are incredibly fun and
easy. Build your own robot in
seconds, without any
programming.

121. MOSS
Fun robots that you can build
and then remotely control.

122. F I NC H…MSRP: $ 99
The Finch was designed to allow
students to write richly
interactive programs. On-board
features include:
Light, temperature, and obstacle
sensors, Accelerometers,
Motors, Buzzer, Full-color beak
LED, Pen mount for drawing
capability, Plugs into USB port -
no batteries required

124. OZ OBOT – MS R P $ 6 0
http://play.ozobot.com/print/guides/ozobot-ozocodes-
reference.pdf

126. LEGO WEDO / LEGO MINDSTORMS

127. SPHERO – MSRP $130 (LIBRARIES99
CODE = -30)
• http://www.sphero.com/educat
ion
• SPRK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S95KiPws54M

128. DASH AND DOT

129. TICKLE APP

130. HTTPS://PINOCC.IO/

131. WHAT’S NEXT

132. PULLING IT TOGETHER
https://vimeo.com/35458411

133. BUILDING A BUSINESS
• Use the space to incubate businesses and ideas

134. CREATING CHALLENGES
• Use your own developmental projects (as in Software or Web
Solutions) and have the makerspace help (coding)
• Use the makerspace to market your programs and events
(graphics / video / 3D Design)
• Identify a problem in the community and have the space
spearhead a solution (collaboration)

135. START UP
WEEKEND
• http://startupweekend.org/
• “No Talk, All Action.
Launch a startup in
54 hours”

136. MAKERFAIRE
• Your Library should be on the pulse of
any local MakerFaire and be
participating.

137. UP AND COMING

138. WI NK –
P R OGRAMMAB LE
B UG
Coming Soon!

139. ME C CANOI D
$100-350

140. http://www.makeblock.cc/mbot/
http://kinderlabrobotics.com/kibo/
Choose from individual robot kits ($229, $359
and $399), a la carte programming blocks,
lightbulb and sensor modules.
mBot is an all-in-one solution for kids to enjoy
the hands-on experience about programming,
electronics, and robotics. Working with mBlock
inspired by Scratch 2.0, controlled by
Bluetooth, this easy-to-assemble mBot
provides infinite possibilities for your kid to
learn STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics).

141. LASER CUTTER

142. P OWERUP 3 . 0
$50 MSRP

143. P OWERUP F P V
Coming Soon!

144. CONTACT ME
BRIAN PICHMAN
• @bpichman
• 815.534.0403
• bpichman@evolveproject.
org