© Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
Get Creative, Get
Connected, Get Coding!
Hal Speed
Infosys Foundation USA Pathfinders
Chief of Global Engagement,
Micro:bit Educational Foundation
16 July 2018
@HalSpeed @microbit_edu
Presentation available at halspeed.com or
slideshare.net/hal_speed

© Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
2
What if robots replaced teachers?
https://youtu.be/rjCkiNRM-FI

3 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Micro:bit Designed as a Learning Tool for
Students

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4
2015
 BBC Make It Digital
 29 partners
 1 million micro:bit devices
 11-12 year olds
 Across the U.K.

© Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
5
90% of students said it helped
show that anyone can code
Source: BBC

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6
70% increase in the number of
girls that said they would
definitely choose computing
Source: BBC

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@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
7
“Creating Cool Stuff”
 Sue Sentence, et al. King’s College London
 Reinforces Bloom’s Taxonomy
 Creating at the pinnacle
 Physical computing in school:
 Motivation
 Tangibility
 Collaboration
 Creativity
7
Source:
https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/65615345/creating_cool_stuff_POSTPRINT_to_share.pdf

8 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
Inspiring every child to
create their best digital
future
2016 Micro:bit Educational
Foundation Formed

9 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
micro:bit available in the
U.S.
2017
10 New & Innovative EdTech
Products Announced at ISTE
2017
http://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/06/10-innovative-new-products-announced-at-iste-
2017/

10 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
Sample of Lessons

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STEM Lessons
https://makecode.microbit.org/projects

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Lessons Aligned to Code.org CS
Fundamentals
 Lessons extend the concepts taught in the Code.org curriculum by using
micro:bit and MakeCode
 Course E – Loop and Functions
 Course F – Variables and Conditionals
4th Grade 5th Grade
Course E Course F
http://microbit.org/teach/code-org-fundamentals/

13 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Third-Party Curricula
Microsoft MakeCode Intro to CS
https://aka.ms/intro2cs
PLTW Gateway:
Computer Science for
Innovators and Makers
https://www.pltw.org/our-
programs/pltw-gateway-
curriculum#curriculum-4
8. Coordinate Grid System
9. Booleans
10.Music and Arrays
11.Bits, Bytes, and Binary
12.Radio
13.Arrays
14.Independent Final
Project
1. Making
2. Algorithms
3. Variables
4. Conditionals
5. Iteration
6. Review/Mini-Project
7. Coordinate Grid
System

14 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Launch CS – Physical Computing with the
micro:bit
 Lesson 1: About Computers and
Coding
 Lesson 2: Events
 Lesson 3: Variables
 Lesson 4: Looping and Iteration
 Lessons 5-6: Science and Data
 Lesson 7: Radios and Networking
 Lessons 8-10: Unit Project
 Free download at
www.launchcs.com/shop.php

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 Many applications in and
out of school
 Science
 ICT
 Art
 Music
 Engineering
 Design & Technology
 Computing
 STEM clubs
Not just about coding!
“Play, Share, Code,
Wear!”

16 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
Microsoft MakeCode – Blocks and
JavaScript

17 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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© Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
18
New: Windows 10 App in Microsoft Store

19 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Python

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Third-Party Editors
https://www.mathworks.com/academia/highschool/courseware/microbit.html
http://microbit.org/code-alternative-editors/
http://iot.appinventor.mit.edu/#/microbit/microbitintro

21 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Third-Party Editors (Development Previews)
http://microbit.org/code-alternative-editors/

22 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Scratch 3.0 (PREVIEW)
 Add physical computing to
the world of Scratch
 Program Scratch using the
micro:bit for input and output
 Motion sensor
 LEDs
 Buttons
 Pins
 Connects to Scratch via
Bluetooth using a special
.hex file on the micro:bit

23 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Scratch + micro:bit Activity Cards
http://microbit.org/scratch/

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24
 PC/Mac
 Chromebooks
 Smart phones
 Tablets
 Connect through USB
 Connect through Bluetooth
 iOS and Android apps
available
Multiple ways of
programing

25 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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BirdBrain Technologies
https://www.birdbraintechnologies.com/hummingbirdbit/
Hummingbird Bit
Hummingbird
micro:bit adapter

26 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Coming Soon: Parallax cyber:bot with
NICERC Curriculum

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New Accessories from SparkFun, Kitronik &
Adafruit

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28
http://microbit.org/assets/documents/microbit-accessories.pdf

© Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
29 http://microbit.org/assets/documents/microbit-accessories.pdf

30 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Package Options
~$14.99 ~$16.50 ~$142.00
1x micro:bit 1x micro:bit
1x battery pack w/batteries
1x USB cable
10x micro:bit
10x battery pack w/batteries
10x USB cable

31 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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U.S. Resellers
http://microbit.org/resellers/

32 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Available via DonorsChoose.org
 AKJ Education is an approved DonorsChoose.org vendor and
micro:bit reseller
 Teachers enter projects and request classroom materials
 Individuals and companies can donate money towards the
purchase of those materials

33 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
Micro:bit in Wonderland Book, Kit and Free
Lessons
http://alice.techagekids.com
http://microbit.org/en/2018-02-16-coding-projects-

34 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Books

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Make with micro:bit
https://makezine.com/2017/09/20/learn-basics-javascript-

36 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
“The micro:bit is a standout for education.
First, it uses block-style programming
language…Second, it has enough lights,
buttons, and sensors built in to give a
student programmer plenty to play with”
Sam Brown, Make: Magazine
Make: 2017 Board Guide STANDOUTS
https://makezine.com/2017/05/30/extraordinary-dev-boards/

37 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2018
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Demo

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38
Chrome Setup
 chrome://settings/downloads - OR - Show advanced settings…

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@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
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https://makecode.microbit.org/

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@microbit_edu @HalSpeed
40
Rock Paper Scissors

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41
“Chuck-a-Duck”

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Digital Fidget Spinner

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Banana Keyboard
 https://makecode.microbit.org/projects/banana-keyboard