MicroBit

What is the Micro:Bit

The Micro:bit is a small, portable computer that is specifically designed for use in educational settings. It was developed as a collaboration between the BBC and a number of technology companies, with the goal of providing an easy-to-use platform for young people to learn programming and other computer science concepts.

The Micro:bit has a number of features that make it well-suited for educational use. It has a small, compact form factor, making it easy to carry and use in a variety of settings. It also has a number of built-in sensors and inputs, including a small screen, a number of buttons, and sensors for detecting temperature, light, and movement.

The Micro:bit is programmed using a simple, block-based programming language called MicroPython. This language is designed to be easy for beginners to learn, and allows users to create simple programs and control the various features of the Micro:bit.

Overall, the Micro:bit is a useful tool for introducing young people to the concepts of computer science and programming, and can be used in a variety of educational settings to teach these concepts in an engaging and interactive way.

Hive Workshop

We will be using bitlink kits to complete the training modules.

First Set of Activities are for Children and Adults who have not used the Micro:Bit before or have a very basic understanding. We discuss some of the Micro:Bit features and then create 3 programs as a group to:

  • Connecting the Micro:Bit to the computer
  • Write text and numbers on the screen.
  • Using buttons to activate commands
  • Measure light levels
  • Create a bar graph to measure light over time.

Laptop and Micro:Bit are provided per 2 people.

If your child can already programme the Micro:Bit without help and knows how to display text on the screen and other functions, this workshop might be a little boring:-)

Workshop Websites to teach from:

Kits

Educational Resources

LED display

I’ve found the LED Display on the micro:bit to be multiplexed. Meaning not all the LEDs are on at any one time, which the human eye doesn’t notice. However the video camera at even lower frame rates seems to pick it up and not show the complete screen. This means when recording a demo, the Simulated environment is best.