Lesson 1 – Introduction to the BBC micro:bit

Study Videos –

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. BBC micro:bit Starter Kit –
    1. You can purchase the Smart Home Kit through the OzToyLib store – BBC micro:Bit SmartHome Kit
    2. Please note that the BBC micro:bit needs to be purchased separately from the BBC micro:Bit SmartHome Kit.
    3. You can purchase the BBC micro:Bit SmartHome Kit at OzToyLib.
  3. You can also look up each of these products at your local electronics hobby store.

Tutorial –

  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

About the 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.

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.

Reference –

  1. Learn more about the BBC micro:bit here – <Link>
  2. Look for a BBC micro:bit re-seller here and pick one up now.

Questions