Intro Modular Circuits and Coding

Course Description

Start building embedded electronics the modular way. Intro to Modular Embedded Design is an 8-week, instructor-led online course for students in grades 6-8 who want to explore how sensors, output devices, and microcontrollers work together in interactive systems. Centered on the Grove Beginner Kit for Arduino by Seeed Studio, this course combines hands-on electronics and physical programming to introduce students to the fundamentals of embedded system design. Over the first six weeks, students will dive into the modular Grove environment, learning system design, how to interpret sensor behavior, and write code to control components like LEDs, buzzers, and LCD displays. Each week introduces a new hardware module from the Grove Arduino Starter Kit by Seeed Studio, teaching core technical skills like analog vs. digital signal processing, serial communication, sensor integration, actuator control, PWM, conditional logic, and structured programming with loops, variables, and functions. This is a rigorous, project-based course that emphasizes systems thinking, hands-on circuit development, and real-world problem-solving through structured exploration and programming. Students will gain experience interpreting sensor data, debugging code, and refining system behavior, all key skills for aspiring engineers, technicians, and creative technologists working with modular embedded/hardware systems. In the final two weeks, students will apply everything they've learned to design and prototype a capstone project of their choice using components from the Grove kit. This open-ended challenge allows them to build something unique and functional, putting their creativity and technical skills into practice. Technology Requirements To participate in the course, students are required to purchase their own Grove Beginner Kit for Arduino, an Arduino Uno, and a basic digital multimeter. A detailed materials list and setup guide will be provided upon registration. Students also need a reliable internet connection (minimum 5 Mbps download / 1 Mbps upload) and a computer capable of running the Arduino IDE and joining video conferencing sessions. A wired connection or strong Wi-Fi is recommended; mobile hotspots are discouraged due to potential instability. This course is independently developed and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Seeed Studio or the Arduino project. To learn more about this course, please email: 📧 info@excitonlearning.com