Programmable Electronics

COURSE OVERVIEW

Students will learn the basics of coding and microcontrollers. Once they have completed the introductory course, they will need to solve real-world problems using the microprocessor and their creative thinking. Projects will become increasingly complex, and students will learn to collaborate in teams to solve problems using a variety of technical equipment, such as laser cutters and 3D printers.

COURSE OUTCOME

Students will emerge as confident problem-solvers who view technology as a tool for creation rather than a mystery. They will take away a robust "Engineering Mindset"—the ability to break complex problems into programmable components and to build iterative physical prototypes.

Beyond mastering programming, they gain the technical skills vital in the modern world: collaborating under pressure, navigating "successful failures" during debugging, and communicating technical ideas to others. Ultimately, they leave with the realisation that they can build meaningful solutions to global problems using nothing more than a microcontroller, code, and simple materials.

REAL WORLD APPLICATION:

Rapid Prototyping (The "Google" Method): Industry leaders like Google and IDEO use cardboard and low-fi materials for "pre-prototyping." This course teaches students to move from an idea to a physical proof-of-concept in minutes, mirroring the Fail Fast, Fail Cheap philosophy used in professional R&D.
Physical Computing & Automation: Students learn to interpret sensor data (analogue and digital inputs) to trigger mechanical actions. This is the foundation of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart home technology, and industrial automation systems found in modern manufacturing.
Computational Thinking: By writing scripts to handle "real-life scenarios," students master logic, variables, and loops. These are the core building blocks of Software Engineering, applicable to any programming language.

COURSE PREREQUISITES:

None

Course Competencies

Critical Thinking

Students will be presented with real problems and will need to create solutions to resolve them. They will use microprocessors, sensors, actuators and other tools to create ideas and solve problems.

Collaboration

Students will evaluate their solutions and critically analyse how the collaboration leads to a better solution.

COURSE OUTLINE

Part 1: Microcontroller Foundations

Focus: Mastering the hardware and the syntax through "Mini-Missions."

In this phase, every hour is a race to solve a technical puzzle. Students learn the relationship between code and physical reaction.

Part 2: Engineering Challenges

Focus: Applying skills to "Closed-Loop" problems and learning fabrication.

Students are given specific, difficult tasks that require them to problem-solve and develop the program.

Part 3: The Real-World Scenario

Focus: Team-based Project-Based Learning to find a real-world problem to solve.

The class is split into "Engineering Firms." They research a real-world problem to solve

Part 4: The Presentation

Focus: Communication, Demonstration, and Critical Thinking.

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