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Harris offers online certificate course in IoT devices, embedded systems
Interested in Arduinos and microcontrollers? Associate Professor of Computer Science Ian Harris is offering a novel specialization in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, available to the general public through online course platform Coursera.
Through a series of five online courses and one capstone project, students can earn a certificate specializing in embedded systems, the Raspberry Pi Platform, and the Arduino environment for building devices that can control the physical world. Courses include “Introduction to the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems,” which explores the explosive growth of IoT devices and the rising trend of home-built IoT innovations, as well as IoT device design considerations and networking components. Another course, “Interfacing with the Arduino,” explores the various ways to connect sensors to the Arduino, an open-source electronic prototyping platform used to create interactive electronics. After completing the required classes, students then apply their knowledge by designing, building and testing a “microcontroller-based embedded system, producing a unique final project suitable for showcasing to future employer,” according to the course description.
The specialization is designed for beginners, with no prior experience in embedded systems or IoT knowledge required. Courses are typically a month long, requiring only a few hours a week commitment depending on the intensiveness. Students are free to take the courses individually without completing the specialization, as well. The online courses are also relatively low-cost, with financial aid available to those who qualify.
Harris notes that the benefits of taking the course: “You’ll be able to design and create a simple IoT device while exploring different IoT technologies and their applications. Using both the Arduino and Raspberry Pi hardware systems, you’ll develop basic code using both the Python and C programming languages. ... Best of all you’ll have fun using new technologies that will be an ever-increasing part of our future.”