Embedded systems are everywhere–and Arm-based technologies are the industry standard. Getting started could not be easier. This hands-on course introduces the fundamentals of embedded system design and programming through interactive exercises using MicroPython and the micro:bit.

Embedded Systems on Arm: Get Started with the micro:bit

Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Beginner level
Basics of programming in Python.
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Beginner level
Basics of programming in Python.
What you'll learn
The role of Arm processors in modern embedded systems.
How to program embedded systems using Python.
Details to know

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May 2026
43 assignments
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There are 6 modules in this course
What's included
6 videos25 readings6 assignments
6 videos•Total 23 minutes
- W (1) Welcome and Introduction•1 minute
- TP (1) Thinking Point•3 minutes
- KV1 (1) Introduction to Embedded Systems•6 minutes
- KV2 (1) Benefits and Constraints of Embedded Systems•4 minutes
- KV3 (1) Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)•5 minutes
- KV4 (1) Arm Architecture and Processors•4 minutes
25 readings•Total 750 minutes
- W (1) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- W (1) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- IN (1) Course Overview•30 minutes
- IN2 (1) The Coursera Platform•30 minutes
- TP (1) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- TP (1) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- LO (1) Intended Learning Outcomes and Things to Look Out For•30 minutes
- IR (1) Initial Reflection•30 minutes
- IA (1) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- N (1) Where Next?•30 minutes
- KV1 (1) Introduction to Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KV1 (1) Introduction to Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KE1 (1) Assessment: Introduction to Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KV2 (1) Benefits and Constraints of Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KV2 (1) Benefits and Constraints of Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KE2 (1) Assessment: Benefits and Constraints of Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KV3 (1) Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)•30 minutes
- KV3 (1) Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT) •30 minutes
- KE3 (1) Assessment: Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)•30 minutes
- KV4 (1) Arm Architecture and Processors•30 minutes
- KV4 (1) Arm Architecture and Processors•30 minutes
- KE4 (1) Assessment: Arm Architecture and Processors•30 minutes
- R (1) Further Reading•30 minutes
- FA (1) Final Assessment•30 minutes
- FR (1) Final Reflection•30 minutes
6 assignments•Total 210 minutes
- FA (1) Final Assessment•60 minutes
- IA (1) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- KE1 (1) Assessment: Introduction to Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KE2 (1) Assessment: Benefits and Constraints of Embedded Systems•30 minutes
- KE3 (1) Assessment: Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)•30 minutes
- KE4 (1) Assessment: Arm Architecture and Processors•30 minutes
What's included
7 videos25 readings6 assignments
7 videos•Total 21 minutes
- W (2) Welcome and Introduction•1 minute
- TP (2) Thinking Point•2 minutes
- KV1 (2) Introduction to the micro:bit•6 minutes
- KV2 (2) Rapid Prototyping Using the micro:bit•1 minute
- KV3 (2) High-Level and Low-Level Programming•4 minutes
- KV4 (2) The Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard•3 minutes
- SV1 (2) Lab Project: Getting Started•3 minutes
25 readings•Total 750 minutes
- W (2) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- W (2) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- TP (2) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- TP (2) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- LO (2) Intended Learning Outcomes and Things to Look Out For•30 minutes
- IR (2) Initial Reflection•30 minutes
- IA (2) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- N (2) Where Next?•30 minutes
- KV1 (2) Introduction to the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV1(2) Introduction to the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV1 (2) Assessment: Introduction to the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV2 (2) Rapid Prototyping Using the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV2 (2) Rapid Prototyping Using the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV2 (2) Assessment: Rapid Prototyping Using the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV3 (2) High-Level and Low-Level Programming•30 minutes
- KV3 (2) High-Level and Low-Level Programming•30 minutes
- KE3 (2) Assessment: Understanding High-Level vs Low-Level Programming in the Context of micro:bit and the micro:bit Python Editor•30 minutes
- KV4 (2) The Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS)•30 minutes
- KV4 (2) The Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard•30 minutes
- KE4 (2) Assessment: The Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS)•30 minutes
- SV1 (2) Lab Project: Getting Started•30 minutes
- SV1 (2) Lab Project: Getting Started•30 minutes
- R (2) Further Reading•30 minutes
- FA (2) Final Assessment•30 minutes
- FR (2) Final Reflection•30 minutes
6 assignments•Total 210 minutes
- KE1 (2) Assessment: Introduction to the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KE2 (2) Assessment: Rapid Prototyping Using the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KE3 (2) Assessment: High-Level and Low-Level Programming•30 minutes
- KE4 (2) Assessment: The Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS)•30 minutes
- IA (2) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- FA (2) Final Assessment•60 minutes
What's included
9 videos36 readings7 assignments
9 videos•Total 39 minutes
- W (3) Welcome and Introduction•1 minute
- TP (3) Thinking Point•3 minutes
- KV1 (3) Voltages and Logic Values•3 minutes
- KV2 (3) GPIOs and Peripherals•5 minutes
- KV3 (3) GPIO Design and Microcontrollers•3 minutes
- KV4 (3) Controlling Peripherals with the micro:bit •2 minutes
- SV1 (3) Lab Project: Before You Begin•6 minutes
- SV2 (3) Lab Project: Part 1•9 minutes
- SV3 (3) Lab Project: Part 2•9 minutes
36 readings•Total 1,020 minutes
- W (3) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- W (3) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- TP (3) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- TP (3) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- LO (3) Intended Learning Outcomes and Things to Look Out For•30 minutes
- IR (3) Initial Reflection•30 minutes
- IA (3) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- N (3) Where Next?•30 minutes
- KV1 (3) Voltages and Logic Values•30 minutes
- KV1 (3) Voltages and Logic Values•30 minutes
- KE1 (3) Assessment: Voltages and Logic Values•30 minutes
- KV2 (3) GPIOs and Peripherals•30 minutes
- KV2 (3) GPIOs and Peripherals•30 minutes
- KE2 (3): Assessment: GPIOs and Peripherals•30 minutes
- KV3 (3) GPIO Design and Microcontrollers•30 minutes
- KV3 (3) GPIO Design and Microcontrollers•30 minutes
- KE3 (3) Assessment: GPIO Design and Microcontrollers•30 minutes
- KV4 (3) Controlling Peripherals with micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV4 (3) Controlling Peripherals with the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KE4 (3) Assessment: Controlling Peripherals with the micro:bit•30 minutes
- SV1 (3) Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SV1 (3) Lab Project: Before You Begin•30 minutes
- SV2 (3) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV2(3) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SE2 (3) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV3 (3) Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SV3 (3) Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SE3 (3) Module Project•30 minutes
- SE3 (3) Module Project Briefing•30 minutes
- SE3 (3) Module Project: Task 1•30 minutes
- SE3 (3) Module Project Task 2•10 minutes
- SE3 (3) Module Project Task 3•10 minutes
- SE3 (3) Module Project Task 4•10 minutes
- R (3) Further Reading•30 minutes
- FA (3) Final Assessment•30 minutes
- FR (3) Final Reflection•30 minutes
7 assignments•Total 240 minutes
- FA (3) Final Assessment•60 minutes
- IA (3) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- KE1 (3) Assessment: Voltages and Logic Values•30 minutes
- KE2 (3) Assessment: GPIOs and Peripherals•30 minutes
- KE3 (3) Assessment: GPIO Design and Microcontrollers•30 minutes
- KE4 (3) Assessment: Controlling Peripherals with the micro:bit•30 minutes
- SE2 (3) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
What's included
9 videos32 readings8 assignments
9 videos•Total 42 minutes
- W (4) Welcome and Introduction•1 minute
- TP (4) Thinking Point•5 minutes
- KV1 (4) Interrupts•4 minutes
- KV2 (4) Types of Interrupt•5 minutes
- KV3 (4) Exception Processing: Examples•2 minutes
- KV4 (4) Exception Processing•9 minutes
- SV1 (4) Lab Project: Before You Begin•4 minutes
- SV2 (4) Lab Project: Part 1•6 minutes
- SV3 (4) Lab Project: Part 2•6 minutes
32 readings•Total 960 minutes
- W (4) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- W (4) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- TP (4) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- TP (4) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- LO (4) Intended Learning Outcomes•30 minutes
- IR (4) Initial Reflection•30 minutes
- IA (4) Initial Assessment •30 minutes
- N (4) Where Next?•30 minutes
- KV1 (4) Interrupts•30 minutes
- KV1 (4) Interrupts•30 minutes
- KE1 (4) Assessment: Interrupts•30 minutes
- KV2 (4) Types of Interrupts•30 minutes
- KV2 (4) Types of Interrupts•30 minutes
- KE2 (4) Assessment. Types of Interrupts•30 minutes
- KV3 (4) Exception Processing: Examples•30 minutes
- KV3 (4) Exception Processing: Examples•30 minutes
- KE3 (4) Assessment: Exception Processing: Examples•30 minutes
- KV4 (4) Exception Processing•30 minutes
- KV4 (4) Exception Processing•30 minutes
- KE4 (4) Assessment: Exception Processing•30 minutes
- SV1 (4) Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SV1 (4) Lab Project: Before You Begin•30 minutes
- SE1 (4) Assessment: Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SV2 (4) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV2 (4) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SE2 (4) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV3 (4) Lab Video: Part 2•30 minutes
- SV3 (4) Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SE3 (4) Module Project•30 minutes
- R (4) Further Reading•30 minutes
- FA (4) Final Assessment•30 minutes
- FR (4) Final Reflection•30 minutes
8 assignments•Total 270 minutes
- FA (4) Final Assessment•60 minutes
- IA (4) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- KE1 (4) Assessment: Interrupts•30 minutes
- KE2 (4) Assessment: Types of Interrupts•30 minutes
- KE3 (4) Assessment: Exception Processing: Examples•30 minutes
- KE4 (4) Assessment: Exception Processing•30 minutes
- SE1 (4) Assessment: Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SE2 (4) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
What's included
10 videos35 readings8 assignments
10 videos•Total 31 minutes
- W (5) Welcome and Introduction•1 minute
- TP (5) Thinking Point•3 minutes
- KV1 (5) Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion•2 minutes
- KV2 (5) Types of DACs and ADCs•6 minutes
- KV3 (5) Properties of Analog-to-Digital Conversion•5 minutes
- KV4 (5) Analog Input and Output with the micro:bit•3 minutes
- SV1 (5) Lab Project: Before You Begin•2 minutes
- SV2 (5) Lab Project: Part 1•3 minutes
- SV3 (5) Lab Project: Part 2•5 minutes
- SV4 (5) Lab Project: Part 3•2 minutes
35 readings•Total 1,050 minutes
- W (5) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- W (5) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- TP (5) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- TP (5) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- LO (5) Intended Learning Outcomes and Things to Look Out For•30 minutes
- IR (5) Initial Reflection•30 minutes
- IA (5) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- N (5) Where Next?•30 minutes
- KV1 (5) Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion•30 minutes
- KV1 (5) Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion•30 minutes
- KE5 (1) Assessment: Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion•30 minutes
- KV2 (5) Types of DACs and ADCs•30 minutes
- KV2 (5)Types of DACs and ADCs•30 minutes
- KV2 (5) Assessment: Types of DACs and ADCs•30 minutes
- KV3 (5) Properties of Analog-to-Digital Conversion•30 minutes
- KV3 (5) Properties of Analog-to-Digital Conversion•30 minutes
- KE3 (5) Assessment: Properties of Analog-to-Digital Conversion•30 minutes
- KV4 (5) Analog Input and Output with the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV4(5) Analog Input and Output with the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KE4 (5) Assessment: Analog Input and Output with the micro:bit•30 minutes
- SV1 (5) Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SV1 (5) Lab Project: Before You Begin•30 minutes
- SE1 (5) Assessment: Before you begin•30 minutes
- SV2 (5) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV2 (5) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SE2 (5) Assessment: Analog I/Os•30 minutes
- SV3 (5) Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SV3 (5) Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SE3 (5) Assessment: Pulse Width Modulation•30 minutes
- SV4 (5) Lab Project: Part 3•30 minutes
- SV4 (5) Lab Project: Part 3•30 minutes
- SE4 (5) Module Project •30 minutes
- R (5) Further Reading•30 minutes
- FA (5) Final Assessment •30 minutes
- FR (5) Final Reflection•30 minutes
8 assignments•Total 240 minutes
- IA (5) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- KE1 (5) Assessment: Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion•30 minutes
- KE2 (5) Assessment: Types of DACs and ADCs•30 minutes
- KE3 (5) Assessment: Properties of Analog-to-Digital Conversion•30 minutes
- KE4 (5) Assessment: Analog Input and Output with the micro:bit•30 minutes
- SE1 (5) Assessment: Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SE2 (5) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SE3 (5) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
What's included
10 videos36 readings8 assignments
10 videos•Total 29 minutes
- W (6) Welcome and Introduction•1 minute
- TP (6) Thinking Point•4 minutes
- KV1 (6) Timer Functionality Components•3 minutes
- KV2 (6) Timer Operation Modes•4 minutes
- KV3 (6) Timers and Repeating Functions in micro:bit Python•2 minutes
- KV4 (6) Using PWM to Control Output on the micro:bit•2 minutes
- SV1 (6) Lab Project: Before You Begin•4 minutes
- SV2 (6) Lab Project: Part 1•6 minutes
- SV3 (6) Lab Project: Part 2•2 minutes
- SV3 (6) Lab Project: Part 3•2 minutes
36 readings•Total 1,040 minutes
- W (6) Welcome and Introduction•30 minutes
- W (6) Welcome and Introduction •30 minutes
- TP (6) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- TP (6) Thinking Point•30 minutes
- LO (6) Intended Learning Outcomes and Things to Look Out For•30 minutes
- IR (6) Initial Reflection•30 minutes
- IA (6) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- N (6) Where Next?•30 minutes
- KV1 (6) Timer Functionality and Components•30 minutes
- KV1 (6) Timer Functionality and Components•30 minutes
- KE1 (6) Assessment: Timer Functionality and Components•30 minutes
- KV2 (6) Timer Operation Modes•30 minutes
- KV2 (6) Timer Operation Modes•30 minutes
- KE2 (6) Assessment: Timer Operation Modes•30 minutes
- KV3 (6) Timers and Repeating Functions in micro:bit Python•30 minutes
- KV3 (6) Timers and Repeating Functions in micro:bit Python Transcript•30 minutes
- KE3 (6) Assessment: Timers and Repeating Functions in micro:bit Python•30 minutes
- KV4 (6) Using PWM to Control Outputs on the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KV4 (6) Using PWM to Control Output on the micro:bit•30 minutes
- KE4 (6) Assessment: Using PWM to Control Outputs on the micro:bit•30 minutes
- SV1 (6) Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SV1 (6) Lab Project: Before You Begin•30 minutes
- SE1 (6) Assessment: Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SV2 (6) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV2 (6) Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV2 (6) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
- SV3 (6) Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SV3 (6) Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SE3 (6) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 2•30 minutes
- SV3 (6) Lab Project: Part 3•10 minutes
- SV4 (6)Lab Project: Part 3 •30 minutes
- SE4 (6) Module Project•10 minutes
- R (6) Further Reading•30 minutes
- FA (6) Final Assessment•30 minutes
- FR (6) Final Reflection•30 minutes
- CS (6) Course Survey•30 minutes
8 assignments•Total 270 minutes
- FA (6) Final Assessment•60 minutes
- IA (6) Initial Assessment•30 minutes
- KE1 (6) Assessment: Timer Functionality and Components•30 minutes
- KE2 (6) Assessment: Timer Operation Modes•30 minutes
- KE3 (6) Assessment: Timers and Repeating Functions in micro:bit Python•30 minutes
- KE4 (6) Assessment: Using PWM to Control Outputs on the micro:bit•30 minutes
- SE1 (6) Assessment: Lab Project: Before you Begin•30 minutes
- SE2 (6) Assessment: Lab Project: Part 1•30 minutes
Instructor
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