Out of My Comfort Zone (Part 3)

Arduino

During the exchange program in Indonesia, I joined the IoT class. Before I joined we were told we will learn how to use the Arduino. But not only I have learnt how to use the Arduino, I was able to learn much more.

I was really troubled the first day, cause I was asked by many people on how much I knew about Arduino, and my answers were constant, “Nothing”. I had no prior knowledge of the subject. Even my programming was mediocre at best. With all the questions, I was worried if they actually expected someone more experienced.

Fortunately, everything ran smoothly especially with the help of the facilitators of the class. We did start with the basics and I wasn’t the only one with no experience with Arduino. There was also just three students and four facilitators, two of them are the mentors. So, it was easy for me to ask any questions and easy for them to catch my confused expression anytime I did not understand.

For each class, we are provided with a module. And they were kind enough to provide me with an English version of the module.

Our class starts at 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

We started with learning a few physics basics like electronic symbols. Then we proceded with coding in Arduino, how to make the LEDs blink. I learnt how to use the potentiometer, LCD and a push button.

Things escalated from there. We also learnt how to use ESP8266, which can connect the devices with the WiFi! I learnt how to use the database and localhost. For the database we used Xampp. It was so fun.

What I was not expecting to learn was mobile programming. But we were taught some basic mobile programming. I was thrilled because I was always interested in mobile programming.

We learnt how to design the app and even connect it to the database.

At the end of the exchange program, there is an expo and so we have to prepare a project.

There are only two teams for the IoT class. My project is a Smart Home while the other team project is a Smart Aquarium.

The Smart Aquarium got 3rd place!

The Multimedia course got the 2nd place, who did Augmented Reality (AR)  on classic stories and the project is called Once Upon a Time.

The Mobile Programming got 1st place! The 1st place team did an exercise app.

Overall, I learnt many things, from the basics of Arduino to planning a project and then presenting it. I don’t think I would get this experience often and I am glad I took the chance to learn.

I got many questions from the facilitators at Indonesia on to why I chose IoT. The previous students from UKM that took IoT had a little bit of experience as they were from the Robotics club (ARVIS) while I was actually in a Multimedia Club (iMec).

Although many aimed for the course that they could transfer credit to, the course that is actually on our syllabus at UKM (Web Programming), making them not have to take it during that semester…I chose something that wasn’t on our syllabus. Of course, I could still transfer the credits as CITRA.

Which I questioned myself a few times if I should. But I think back, if not now then when. What are the chances I would get in learning Arduino seeing as it is not on my syllabus and my club has nothing to do with it?

The answer is NOW!

Out of My Comfort Zone (Part 2)

The Exchange Program

I haven’t really explained much about the program itself. Anyway, this is a summer exchange program between UKM and UIN.

We will be learning in each others university for one month.

Here they offered four courses.

• Multimedia-Gaming
• Internet of Things
• Web Programming
• Mobile Programming

They will teach from the basics so no worries about keeping up or not having prior knowledge of the subject.

The class itself is taught by the senior students of the university. Some of them are even younger than me but they are well versed in the subject.

The student in the classes is not many so it is a comfortable environment to learn and you can easily grasp what they are teaching with the students to teacher ratio being almost 1:1. (Ehem2 maybe even 3:1, 3 being the mentors.)

At least that how it is in my class, IoT. There are only two other students besides me.

Before I went to Indonesia, I was confident I would understand what they were saying cause’ we do have many words that are similar and there are many Indonesian dramas being shown on Malaysian tv.

But I realized I had a hard time catching what they were saying cause compared to other members of the exchange program from UKM, I was never a fan of any Indonesian drama or any drama in general truthfully. So, when they talked I realized how different our languages are especially to someone like me who has never been exposed to it. My friends didn’t have much of a problem though.

Although we had a language barrier, they were really understanding and patient.

After learning, at the end of the month, we have to present a project that has to do with what we learnt. The teachers will assist us the whole way as we are beginners. So no worries.

We are staying in a guest house nearby the university so we would walk there together every day.

Every weekend, they would bring us to many places to explore. We would only have to pay the entrance fee and they would provide the transport.

Overall, the program itself is not entirely formal and pretty laid-back. We are able to learn as well as have fun.