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Arduino Step by Step: Getting Started (Udemy.com)

The original comprehensive course designed for new Arduino Makers

Created by: Dr. Peter Dalmaris

Last updated December 2024

Our take

Based on the ratings of 8,714 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in December 2024. No course pays to be reviewed.

This is Peter Dalmaris's beginner course on the Arduino Uno, first published in 2016. It is aimed at people with little or no electronics or programming background. The syllabus shows 165 lectures across 20 sections, about 21 hours, and it moves from what the board is, through breadboards, multimeters and the IDE, into a long run of sensor sections: light, temperature and humidity, acceleration, motion, distance, sound, a buzzer and an LCD. An August 2024 update added a section on the Uno R4 Minima, and the December 2024 update added one on the Wokwi and Tinkercad simulators, so students can follow along without hardware.

Reviewers keep coming back to the same things: the pace is unhurried, the explanations are clear, and the camera work backs up the commentary. Several say they already knew some electronics and still picked up new material, and the quizzes and Q&A get a nod. The complaints are mild. One finds it long winded, with material repeated more than it needs to be. One three-star review wanted real projects, servos, doors, a small robot, and got fundamentals instead. One reviewer asked for the parts list as a PDF, and another hit videos that would not load, which is a Udemy problem, not the course.

With about 47,000 students and 8,700 reviews at a 4.7 rating, this is one of the most established Arduino courses we list. It is the slow, thorough option, and it spends more time on why a circuit works than on building anything impressive. With the parts from section one in hand, it is the safest pick for a first board. Anyone who mainly wants project builds, or wants something flashy working this weekend, should start with a more project-driven course.

Best forAbsolute beginners with an Uno and a parts kit who want electronics basics, a multimeter, and one sensor at a time explained slowly.
Skip it ifYou already program and want to build servos, robots, or real projects fast rather than sit through 165 lectures of fundamentals.

Pros

  • Unhurried pace; reviewers say every step is explained so any background can follow
  • Reviewers praise the camera and video work that supports Dalmaris's commentary
  • Refreshed in 2024 with Uno R4 Minima (August) and Wokwi/Tinkercad simulator (December) sections
  • 14 quizzes and a Q&A reviewers found useful, with about 21 hours covering ten sensor types

Cons

  • Long winded in places; one reviewer says material gets repeated more than needed
  • Fundamentals only: no servos, motors, or full projects, which frustrates the impatient
  • Needs a real parts kit (Uno, multimeter, soldering iron) unless you stick to the simulator section
I really appreciate the pace of the course, no rush and everything was explained in a level that everyone with any background can understand.
Yifan Zhuang, a student

Genuinely beginner: written for people with no electronics or code, and open to kids over ten, younger ones with adult supervision.

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What you will learn

  • Build simple circuits around the Arduino Uno, that implement simple functions.
  • Write simple Arduino sketches that can get sensor reading, make LEDs blink, write text on an LCD screen, read the position of a potentiometer, and much more.
  • Understand what is the Arduino.
  • Understand what is prototyping.
  • Understand analog and digital inputs and outputs
  • Understand the ways by which the Arduino can communicate with other devices
  • Use the multimeter to measure voltage, current, resistance and continuity
  • Use protoboards to make projects permanent
  • be productive with the Arduino IDE, write, compile and upload sketches, install libraries
  • Understand what is Arduino programming, it's basic concepts, structures, and keywords
  • Detect and measure visible light, color, and ultraviolet light
  • Measure temperature, humidity and acceleration
  • Measure the distance between the sensor and an object in front of it
  • Detect a person entering a room
  • Detect a noise
  • Make noise and play music
  • Display text on a liquid crystal display
  • Learn about the Arduino IDE 2.0 and the Arduino Web Editor

Course content

20 sections · 165 lectures · 21 hours of video 14 quizzes, 2 articles

  1. 1Introduction to the course 6 free previews7 lectures · 50 min
  2. 2Know your Arduino Uno R38 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.3 hours
  3. 3Know your Arduino Uno R4 Minima7 lectures · 38 min
  4. 4Introduction to communications4 lectures · 1 quiz · 24 min
  5. 5Arduino boards17 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.8 hours
  6. 6Prototyping basics15 lectures · 1 quiz · 2.1 hours
  7. 7The Arduino IDE9 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.4 hours
  8. 8Arduino programming21 lectures · 1 quiz · 3 hours
  9. 9Arduino programming: Arrays6 lectures · 51 min
  10. 10Measuring light and color7 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.1 hours

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Students over 10 years of age, or younger with with adult supervision. Young students should be supervised at all times when using a soldering iron.
  • Students with a little or no prior experience with electronics or programming.

What you need before you start

  • A Windows, Mac or Linux computer
  • An Arduino Uno
  • Electronics parts like resistors, LEDs, sensors, as listed in Section 1 of the course
  • Essential tools: a mini breadboard, jumper wires, a multimeter, a soldering iron and solder, wire cutter
  • Be excited about electronics!

How it compares

Against the other 295 rated Udemy courses in Arduino on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.7 out of 5higher than 90% of them
  • Reviews8,714#1 of 296 by number of reviews
  • Length21.4 hourslonger than 94% of them
  • Last updatedDecember 2024more recently than 61% of them

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Course Description

Course last updated in December 2024

I have updated Arduino Step by Step Getting Started with an exciting new section on using online Arduino simulators to accelerate your learning and development. These tools allow you to design, test, and debug Arduino projects without physical hardware, saving time and resources. The new lectures introduce two powerful simulation platforms: Wokwi and Tinkercad. They provide detailed examples and hands-on exercises to help you get started.


The new section features a variety of practical examples, including simple LED blink and fade circuits, projects using potentiometers and digital sensors like the DHT22 and HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, and more advanced setups incorporating I2C LCDs and servos. Each example is demonstrated in both Wokwi and Tinkercad, allowing you to compare the capabilities of these platforms and choose the one that best fits your needs. Whether you’re a beginner or looking for a way to prototype your ideas faster, these new lectures make exploring and experimenting with Arduino projects easier than ever.

Course updated in August 2024

I have updated this course with a new section covering the new Arduino Uno R4 Minima. This new Model offers a powerful and cost-effective upgrade over the classic R3. It has a faster processor and more memory, perfect for advanced projects with a compact form factor.

If you are interested in the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi, please know that I have updated Arduino Step by Step Getting Serious with a new section that covers that specific board.

You can complete this course using the classic R3 or the new R4 Minima board.

UPDATED: OCTOBER 2022

My flagship course, designed for people new to electronics and programming, has received a comprehensive update!

I have added new lectures in the first half of the course. They are in the sections “Know your Arduino Uno,” “Arduino boards and kits,” and “The Arduino IDE.”

In these lectures, I cover the latest developments in Arduino software and hardware, including the Arduino Web IDE, the upcoming Arduino IDE 2.0, and the modern Arduino MKR and Nano IoT board families.

I have also verified all links to external websites and other resources, like data sheets, and in many cases, we have added new links to external resources.

UPDATED: January 2020

I have updated this course with a new section on using arrays in Arduino sketches. This is a very useful skill, as it allows you to program repetitive tasks with just a few lines of code. Enjoy!


> Is this course current? <

"Getting Started" is absolutely valid and current.

While I first published it in 2017, I have been updating it almost yearly to keep it up to date with developments.

The Arduino Uno R3 is still the best board for people new to MCUs, and all code in the repository works.

I have updated the course with lectures on the R4 for people that need additional capabilities.

I have also added new lectures to cover the latest development environments, programming, libraries, and even Arduino simulators.

This is the most comprehensive Arduino course on Udemy, that is designed to take you from novice to confident Arduino maker.


About this course

This is the original, legendary Arduino course on Udemy by Tech Explorations, which is fanatically supported by Dr. Peter Dalmaris.

Thousands of students trust it, and it contains over 16 hours of content, quizzes, a GitHub code repository, thousands of active student discussions, and countless downloadable and linked resources.

Please don't be confused by other courses with a similar name.

This course is for the new Arduino Maker. 

Do you have a passion for learning? 

Are you excited about becoming a Maker with the Arduino?

If you answered "yes!" to both, you are ready to start!

In this course, I emphasized the importance of getting the basics right and learning to mastery. As an educator for over 15 years, I know first-hand that hitting a roadblock because you lack the fundamental knowledge to progress can be demotivating. 

In Arduino Step by Step Getting Started, I ensure that the more than 19 hours of video content, mini projects, and quizzes cover all the basics so you can enjoy learning about Arduino.

By the end of the course, you will have a good understanding of the capabilities of the Arduino Uno, the best Arduino for beginners, and you will be familiar with the capabilities of several of its cousins.

You will be comfortable with the basic prototyping tools and their usage and the basics of the Arduino programming environment, language, and programming.

You can use a variety of components, from simple buttons and LEDs to visible color, ultraviolet light, and other environmental sensors.

In this course, you will learn to use the components I demonstrate. You will also learn to read datasheets, use libraries independently, and create the gadgets you want. With knowledge comes freedom, and I will help you achieve it.

I invite you to review the free lectures in the first section of the course to learn more details about it. 

If you are excited about becoming a Maker with the Arduino, join many other Makers and me in Arduino Step by Step Getting Started!

I look forward to learning with you!

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Instructor Details

Dr. Peter Dalmaris

Peter Dalmaris is an educator, electrical engineer, electronics hobbyist, and Maker. Creator of online video courses on DIY electronics and author of three technical books, and has recently released his book Maker Education Revolution.  

As a Chief Tech Explorer since 2013 at Tech Explorations, the company he founded in Sydney, Australia, Peter’s mission is to explore technology and help educate the world. 

Tech Explorations offers educational courses and Bootcamps for electronics hobbyists, STEM students and STEM teachers.

A life-long learner, Peter’s core skill is in explaining difficult concepts through video and text. With over 15 years of tertiary teaching experience, Peter has developed a simple yet comprehensive style in teaching that students from all around the world appreciate. 

His passion for technology and in particular for the world of DIY open source hardware has been a dominant driver that has guided his personal development and his work through Tech Explorations.

Peter’s current online courses have helped over 150,000 people from around the world to be better Makers. 

For more information on Peter's work, please go to his web site, techexplorations dot com.

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Reviews

4.7

8,714 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Christopher Elson on 7/29/2026

A great intro into Arduino programming - particularly from a programming perspective.

By Christopher Read on 5/11/2026

This course has fit well into my learning style of using available moments in various locations and times to advance through it. The mobile component of the course and being able to access the modules on line or using my data has given me the flexibility to optimize my learning experience. The content has been very well presented in an easy to understand modular fashion and I recommend it for people wanting to learn while managing competing demands of living.

By Pedro Ayala on 3/8/2026

This is a very comprehensive course, everything is explained very clearly, all sections are very valuable, even if you already now some basics there is more to learn and there is a lot of hands-on practice in the dedicated sections. Strongly recommended. I'm considering buying more courses from the instructor.

By Mark Puddephat on 1/2/2026

I'm familiar with electronics and computer programming, so there is little for me to learn in that respect. This course is more about applying my existing skills to a new environment.

By Bora on 1/2/2026

To be honest, It's missing some pizass. I wanna go to the real projects already! Like, things like servos, opening doors, maybe even a small robot. But average overall, because at least it's giving information.

By Mathis Meyer on 10/13/2025

Very good course! Great explanations and examples. In the beginning it has a lot of theory, but it helped to understand later concepts better :) Would be beneficial to have some kind of experience with coding before taking the course, but I think it's also possible without anykind of experience.

By Elvis Barbee on 4/6/2025

Personally I enjoyed this course. I liked the content and the way it was presented. I learned quite a bit. Peter is a very good instructor. I think he covers just the right depth as he moves along. Any deeper and you would be better off in a classroom so you could raise your hand when you needed to. Great course Peter, thanks.

By Anthony Pewton on 2/18/2025

I thoroughly enjoyed this course! Peter is an excellent tutor, very clear with his instructions. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning the basics of understanding and using Arduinos.

By Gary Hughes on 6/23/2020

As a complete beginner in all aspects of this course, I was very satisfied with the balance of information provided and the 'homework' I had to do. I realised where my disconnects in understanding of electronics and microelectronics were as a result of Peter's superb breaking down of concepts versus all of the sources he pointed to for further reading. It's great when it all clicks. Nothing's easy when you don't understand fundamentals. Thanks very much!

By Ed Bruner on 7/27/2017

Instructor pleasant to listen to and explaining Arduino concepts very well. I am getting a much better understanding of the Arduino model. Now have a good beginner basis into the Arduino

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Overall Score : 94 / 100