Abstract:

Nowadays, the vast majority of the devices around us are based on electronics, contain a processor, and are controlled by software. With sensors, they are able to convert the physical, chemical and biological signals of the outside world into electronic quantities and then into information, which can be processed with the help of software. Modern electronics allow devices smaller and smaller to handle more and more signals, whether running on batteries or accumulators, to run operating systems and a variety of applications. These electronic tools can be used effectively to raise the quality of teaching programming in secondary school and university education. In particular, it has a major impact on the development of technical and computational thinking, without which students will find it difficult to succeed in today’s job market.

The market trends that are determining the electronics industry today point to a sharp increase in the use of IoT devices, sensors are collecting data around us, using wireless data transmission technologies to transmit the measured values to cloud-based databases, which are processed with various software. Low-power microcontrollers developed for battery power, which are widely used today, provide sensor data collection and data transfer control.

We show with examples how technical IT solutions can provide an appropriate experiential learning opportunity and background in programming education. We focus on teaching methods that use microcontrollers and various sensors to develop programming skills and acquire programming knowledge. We try to develop computer thinking as well as algorithmic thinking.

In our article, we present a literature search on the technical IT teaching tools in use today, some of which are inherently educational and popular with students and teachers. We pay attention to the educational principles of technical IT methods.

Keywords:

Microcontrollers, sensors, teaching programming.