UTAS partnership promotes programming skills
David Chung is a Researcher with the School of Engineering and ICT at the University of Tasmania and has been working with Year 8 Digital Technologies classes on embedded programs..
UTAS offers a program called the Embedded Systems Learning Program for Digital Technologies, as part of their outreach programs to schools. The program provides a great opportunity for students as they learn about real-world embedded system environments by installing, designing and managing several modules of the Ardunio software.
The program provides a theoretical and practical approach for students to learn the basic principles of embedded systems which includes: architecture, design and networks.
Year 8 students eagerly await the arrival of David each week, as he walks into the computer lab equipped with 10 silver cased Arduino kits.
David has been teaching the students to program using the Arduino software and Arduino kits have been provided by the University. Students have been making programs to control different elements of the Arduino boards, such as making lights flash in a sequence or making a buzzer sound.
Students can even write programs that can play simple songs using different tones such as ‘Do Re Mi’ and ‘Jingle Bells’. The classroom buzzes with activity as students achieve success in learning programming techniques.
As soon as students have mastered the basics skills in programming, they will be able develop their own projects and the possibilities are endless as they tap into their imagination!
This is just one of the many opportunities provided for our students as we foster partnerships with the University of Tasmania.
Mrs Selina Kinne - K-10 Director of Teaching and Learning
A Catholic School in the Salesian Tradition
