Page 49 - ODV Training outline_EN

Regarding actuators, which are transducers that convert electrical energy
into another form of energy, kits usually include items such as electric
motors, servo motors, LED lights, or other types of displays.
Microcontrollers are generally accompanied by software environments that allow
the creation of programs, either through block-based programming or text-based
coding, which can then be uploaded to the board.

User guide for hands-on coding activities for varying skill levels

Since there are various microcontrollers boards, in the following pages, we will
only refer to some of them, aiming to convey general logical concepts that, in

practice, are considered applicable through each of the available resources.

A board with integrated sensors and actuators, programmable using blocks

Among the various boards available on the market, there are some particularly
suitable for taking the first steps into the world of microcontrollers. They are
designed to be used without necessarily having to build an electronic circuit
with cables, connectors, and a breadboard. These boards already contain some
integrated sensors and actuators and often come with a block-based
programming environment with online resources for step-by-step lessons.

This makes initial approaches very straightforward, although it may be insufficient
if you want to create more complex projects using generic sensors and actuators
that are not immediately compatible. An example of such a board for starting
from a basic level is the "Micro:bit" board from the BBC (https://microbit.org/new-

microbit/). It comes integrated with an LED matrix, a microphone, touch sensors,
buttons, a light sensor, accelerometer, and compass, along with various possible
connections, including a USB port for providing electrical power and programming
it via a computer.

Additionally, alongside all of this, a website rich in educational resources has been

created. It easily allows the use of ready-made lessons with video tutorials and
provides several apps for programming the board.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the
author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European
Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can
be held responsible for them. Proposal number: 101087107.