The use of open source microcontrollers as an enabler of learning in mandatory education in Portugal

Microcontrollers are one of the resources that are present in more and more schools and that are part of the educational context in many classrooms. These technologies have been evolving and bring with them tools that help teachers and researchers in the development of their activities. This document aims to reflect and assist educators in the contextualization of these technologies and present them with a framework when making decisions about the use of microcontrollers that are available. This paper reports a research work related to classroom use of tangible interfaces; or in the development of projects or other dynamics, within the context of mandatory education in Portugal, using microcontrollers.