Teaching programming using embedded systems

Abstract

Microcontrollers play an increasingly important role in applied computing systems ranging from your toaster to deep space probes. A myriad of objects are embedded with microcontrollers and sensors and have the ability to communicate. The resulting Internet of Things promises to revolutionize information pathways. Are we prepared for this new reality? Within universities, microcontroller courses are typically offered in engineering departments but not in computer science. In this paper, we argue that microcontrollers can be used effectively in a wide variety of computer science and engineering courses. Microcontroller-augmented courses offer a number of advantages as compared to conventional course presentations. A microcontroller is inexpensive and portable and its functionality is largely exposed. Working with a microcontroller helps to demystify the hardware involved in the computing process. These attributes make the microcontroller an "approachable" personable computing device ideally suited for project-based activities. We propose a microcontroller-augmented curriculum and describe a variety of existing course implementations.

Construction and Application of WeChat Learning Platform in "Folk Literature" Teaching

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Make space for the Pi

“…In SoutheastCon 2013, we presented our first paper describing the use of the RPi in a college classroom setting [15]. Since that time, we have used the RPi throughout our Computer Science curriculum in classes ranging from Databases to Computer Architecture to Operating Systems.…”

The Attitudes of Secondary School Teachers toward the Utilization of Microcontroller in The Classroom

“…As a control system for smart electronics, microcontrollers are a technology that is growing progressively more common in daily life. It has attracted attention due to its potential to significantly advance programming, STEM education robotics, Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), and other industrial and manufacturing fields (Bruce et al, 2013;Lu, 2017;Minister of Education (MOE), 2016;Nugent et al, 2019).…”