Abstract
The ability of the Arduino platform to enhance student interest and performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, while fostering skills that are important prerequisites for future IT careers, has been proven more than once in the past years. But can the future be crafted without the past? We believe that many past inventions crave the future, so their understanding is a bridge of knowledge that must be passed to students. According to Grand View Research website the microcontroller market will rise from the 20 billion units in 2015 to an amazing 39 billion units in 2020. Therefore, an increase on IT careers is also expected. The Morse code and the telegraph revolutionized long-distance communication in the past and laid the groundwork for the communications revolution. In fact, although developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse (1791-1872) and other inventors, only in 1844 the first telegraph message, from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Maryland, was sent. To provide the means to students to start learning this technology we have developed four experiences that introduce them to the fundamentals of communications, including the Li-Fi technology. This new technology is based on the Morse code, and can spark again the communications revolution by using tiny, imperceptible flickering lights can provide a new way of sending data to computers and mobile devices. Therefore, we decided to revitalize the almost forgotten Morse code by implementing it with an Arduino in order to lay again the foundations to this new revolution that is coming. This paper presents the implementation model of two Morse code translators, how they work, their implementation, and some results. We also present a VLC (Visible Light Communication) system based on the same principles of the Morse code building this way the foundation for students to proceed with this course of the investigation.

Abstract

Abstract
Over the last decade, impelled by the huge open source software community support, the low cost Arduino platform presents itself as an alternative for digital sound processing. Although Arduino is generally used for small applications for the artistic and maker community, its built-in Analog to digital converter can be used for sound capturing, processing and reproduction. Equipped with a powerful AVR 8 bit RISC microcontroller, the Arduino, can achieve up to 200kHz with a 10 bit resolution according to the Atmel ATmega328P datasheet that is the AVR core that we are going to focus on this article. Realizing the hardware potential, software suppliers like Matworks or National instruments, have included the Arduino packages on the software accessories of MATLAB and LABView. This work presents some of the sound capabilities and specific limitations of the Arduino platform, enlacing its connection and installation with MATLAB software. A series of examples of the Arduino interface with MATLAB are detail and shown in order to facilitate users initiation of MATLAB and Arduino Digital Sound Processing enhancing education fostering.

Abstract
The project addresses the urgent need to enhance student interest and performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, while fostering skills that are important prerequisites for IT careers. In the near term, the project is helping Portuguese schools and students meet state wide academic standards. Over the long term, the project will help inspire and prepare a new generation of IT professionals. This paper presents the robotics model of the Micromouse Project, how it works, how it is implemented, and its results. The Micromouse Project includes, in addition to the annual competition, the development of a kit, workshops for students and their teachers, and dissemination activities. The project was started in 2011 and all the preliminary phases are concluded. First results show that there is great interest and participation of all stakeholders. It was necessary to add to the project a graphical language (Blockly, Scratch, etc.) in order to facilitate and stimulate the participation of younger students.

Abstract

Abstract
The Portuguese Micromouse Contest®* is an innovated robotic contest in Portugal that address the need to enhance student interest and performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, while fostering skills that are important prerequisites for IT careers. To facilitate the access to younger students a robot kit and an Arduino library was developed and made available on GitHub. Some of the library examples include the common algorithms used to solve mazes, like the Flood Fill, Right or Left Wall Following to name a few. Recursive Backtracking algorithm is often used to solve mazes especially if there is a lot of computer power. This is not the case of the Arduino platform that only has 2.5 KB of SRAM and a clock speed of 16 MHz, so implementing Recursive Backtracking becomes quite difficult. In this work we show how to implement Recursive Backtracking to find if there are better solutions for solving the maze. We also show the memory measurements for three Arduino common platforms the Leonardo, the UNO and the DUE. © 2018 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.