Shield - a plug on "daughter board" that allows you to add features to the basic unit.

Sketch - A stupid name for a C/C++ program.

______
Rob

Now I feel more at home; thank you for your reply. Now if I could only spell "Termonology"

Hello

I just discovered Arduino from a RadioShack advertisement dated Nov 11 2011. Really looks like a well thought out family of microprocessor building blocks. However I need some help with the terminology.

1. What is a shield? In my past electronic experience a shield was used to prevent electro-magnetic energy from ingress or outgress. I do not think the two uses of "shield" are the same.
2. What is a sketch? I have been programing since the Z80 days and never heard the term "sketch".

Thank you.