If you have learned the MCS-51 microcontroller, then you can learn the AVR microcontroller, from the MCS-51 over to the AVR is better, if directly skip the MCS-51 and directly learn the AVR microcontroller, a little difficult, in this case, it is not easy for you to choose and analyze the two single-chip microcomputer.
Learning Method: first learning theoretical knowledge, in the theoretical knowledge you at least need to understand the difference between the AVR Microcontroller and MCS-51 microcontroller, and understand his basic use method, it is best to be able to learn and grasp, because with the foundation of the MCS-51, learning is not so difficult; then study the experiment to test our theoretical knowledge, of course, is to use C language programming, compilation is too inefficient. Of course you need a Development Board to do the experiment.
Lesson 1st: Preparation