Introduction to physical computing and electronic circuits

Teach physical computing: Building confidence with electronic circuits

Electronic circuits are at the heart of many technologies we use every day, from simple battery-powered devices to programmable computing systems.

In this short course, you will explore how simple electronic circuits work using a breadboard and simple components. As you build, test, debug, and modify circuits, you will see how they connect to larger physical computing systems.

Throughout the course, you will also consider how these activities can support young learners, helping them develop confidence through building, exploring, testing, and improving their own circuits.

Required knowledge or skills

This course is designed for educators who are new to electronic circuits and would like to introduce these ideas to young learners. You do not need any previous experience with electronics or physical computing.

What you will learn

After completing this short course, you will be able to:

• Explain how simple electronic circuits work
• Build and change a simple electronic circuit using a breadboard
• Find and fix common errors in a simple circuit
• Recognise how simple electronic circuits form the foundation of physical computing systems.

What you will need

You will need access to a simple electronics kit containing:

• A breadboard
• Jumper wires (pin-to-pin)
• A selection of LEDs
• Resistors (you will need to make sure you are using the correct resistor for your circuit components. To do this, you can use an LED Resistor Value Calculator, using the information that came with your components)
• A button
• A buzzer
• A battery pack or other suitable low-voltage power supply