Lesson 1 – Introduction to the BBC micro:bit

Study Videos –

Setup –

  1. Before we get started with coding in using the micro:bit let’s take sometime to learn about the micro:bit and what one might be able to do with it.
  2. The following articles will help you understand the absolute fundamentals of the BBC micro:bit.
  3. Clicking on the each of the links above opens them up in a new window.
    1. What is the BBC micro:bit
    2. The five minute BBC micro:bit guide
    3. A parents complete guide to the BBC micro:bit
    4. A detailed introduction to the BBC micro:bit
    5. Options for powering up the BBC micro:bit
    6. Transferring a program onto the BBC micro:bit
    7. Using the Microsoft makecode editor to start writing code on the BBC micro:bit
  4. We would recommend that you spend sometime listening to the videos listed on this page and also read through the documentation linked above.
  5. An understanding of what the BBC micro:bit can do combined with howto power-up and code the BBC micro:bit is essential knowledge to be able to continue working on rest of the tutorials in this development track.

Hardware Prerequisites –

  1. BBC micro:bit –
    1. This development track makes extensive use of the BBC micro:bit.
    2. If you haven’t purchased a BBC micro:bit yet you might want to head over to OzToyLib and pick one up now.
    3. We would recommend that you pick up the BBC micro:bit kit which comes with a battery pack, usb cable and the real micro:bit.
    4. We will be using the official online python editor to write code for all our tutorials. No investment required here.
  2. Robot Kit –
    1. You will need a Programmable Construction & Robotics Kit . You can pick one up from OzToyLib.
    2. Please note that the BBC micro:bit needs to be purchased separately from the Programmable Construction & Robotics Kit .
    3. You can purchase the Programmable Construction & Robotics Kit at OzToyLib.
  3. You can also look up each of these products at your local electronics hobby store.

About the Building:Bit Construction & Robotics Kit –

The Building:Bit Construction & Robotics Kit offers educators, parents and kids a great opportunity to build on their existing coding skills and take the knowledge of coding, robotics and electronics to a higher level. If you are just starting with coding and robotics then you might want to program the robot using the BBC micro:bit Makecode Block based programming language. If you are an experienced developer and have some prior experience working with electronics, robotics then you can program the robot sing Javascript or even using MicroPython. The Building:Bit Construction & Robotics Kit is recommended for kids 10+ years and older. The Building:Bit Construction & Robotics Kit comes with instructions to build the robot. You can use the Building:Bit Construction & Robotics Kit to introduce your child to the world of STEM and get them going with coding introducing them to the world of robotics using the micro:bit. The Building:Bit Construction & Robotics Kit is a great way to get started with the basics of coding and robotics using a flexible, affordable and easy to work with robotic platform.

About BBC micro:bit –

The Micro Bit (also referred to as BBC Micro Bit, stylised as micro:bit) is an ARM-based embedded system designed by the BBC for use in computer education in the UK. The board is 4 cm × 5 cm and has an ARM Cortex-M0 processor, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a display consisting of 25 LEDs, two programmable buttons, and can be powered by either USB or an external battery pack. The device inputs and outputs are through five ring connectors that are part of the 23-pin edge connector at the bottom of the board. The micro:bit can be programmed using the Microsoft Block code program editor which is similar to the block based language Scratch ideal for 7-12 year olds. The micro:bit can also be programmed using the Makecode editor in Javascript and Python which allows for older kids to learn the Javascript and Python programming language using the micro:bit.

This development track makes extensive use of the BBC micro:bit. If you haven’t purchased a BBC micro:bit yet you might want to head over to OzToyLib and pick one up now.

You can read more about the BBC micro:bit at the microbit website. Also see Kitronik’s resources here – Parents Complete Guide To The BBC micro:bit.

Questions