9.3 Microcontrollers

Unit: Arduino, Circuits and Control

In this unit, you will learn how an Arduino microcontroller uses a program to read inputs and control outputs. Building on your earlier electronics work, you will explore how circuits work, why components need to be connected correctly, and how voltage, current and resistance affect their operation.

You will start by building and programming circuits in Tinkercad using block code. Once you can explain how your simulation works, you will recreate it using a real Arduino, breadboard and components. Along the way, you will make LEDs flash, use buttons and sensors, and program your circuit to respond to changing inputs.

Each task follows the same process: simulate, explain, build and test. You will compare your simulation with your physical circuit, find and fix faults, and apply your learning to a simple automatic control system.

Length: 8 lessons of approximately 55 minutes, including setup and pack-up.
Focus: Circuit fundamentals, microcontrollers, inputs and outputs, block programming, simulation, physical construction and troubleshooting.

Unit learning outcomes

By the end of the unit, students should be able to:

• explain the purpose of a microcontroller and how a program controls its behaviour

• identify power, input, processing and output components within a simple electronic system

• explain voltage, current and resistance in the circuits they build

• interpret simple circuit diagrams and connect components correctly, including LED polarity and current-limiting resistors

• build and test circuits in Tinkercad using block code

• use sequence, repetition and decisions to control outputs

• distinguish between digital and analogue inputs

• recreate a simulated circuit using a real Arduino and breadboard

• use measurements and systematic checks to identify and correct faults

• compare simulated and physical behaviour and explain how well the system meets its requirements.