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.

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

About the Power:Bit Smart Watch for the BBC micro:bit – The Power:Bit watch kit for the BBC micro:bit lets you turn your BBC micro:bit into a totally awesome wearable device. The Power:Bit watch kit is really simple to put together and should take no more than 10 minutes to assemble. With the sleek watch band you can very easily turn your ideas into a neat looking smart watch.

  1. Program your BBC micro:bit as a pedometer and showoff your creation to the entire world or
  2. Program your BBC micro:bit as an activity reminder that flashes when it notices that you have been sitting down too long and now need to move around or
  3. Program your BBC micro:bit with a game and connect with other BBC micro:bit’s remotely in the classroom

The Power:bit button cell board is a micro expansion board and comes equipped with a buzzer. It can not only supply power to the board but is also equipped with P1, P2,GND and 3V pins which you can use to connect other electronics to your Power:Bit.

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