1 – Planning our Halo Game

• You will learn to write your own computer programs – programming
• Develop a range of physical computing solutions using a micro:bit
• Throughout the unit you will develop a range of products including a temperature sensor, radio communication device, rock – paper -scissors game

• Understand what a micro:bit is
• Understand how to use the MakeCode website
• Understand the purpose of the different components on the micro:bit including sensors
• Know that a .hex file is a micro:bit program
• Make a simple program, download it to a PC and upload the program to a micro:bit
• Use some basic blocks in MakeCode to make a name badge program

• micro:bit
• Microcontroller
• Program

• USB
• .hex
• Download/upload

• Copy and Paste
• Blocks
• LED

• An input device allows you to send data to a computer.
• An output device receives data from a computer.
• There are a number of inputs and outputs that are included in the micro:bit. How many can you identify?

Write down all the inputs and outputs on the micro:bit in a blank Word document.

Then write down the possible inputs a smartphone or PC might have.

Then upload a screenshot of your completed work to the L1 – Silver task.

• The micro:bit is an example of a microcontroller.
• It contains a number of input and output devices.
• The purpose of an input device is to allow data to be transferred into the computer system.
• The purpose of an output device is to transfer the data out of the system.

• The ARM processor acts as the brain of the computer.
• It processes all instructions from the other components on the device.
• The accelerometer and compass (magnetometer) are able to automatically detect things and use those readings to input data into the device – these are called sensors.

• You are going to create your own name badge using the micro:bit.
• Use the instructions in the worksheet below to guide you through the task.
• Once you have created your name badge attempt to complete the Explorer tasks.

In this lesson, you…

• Used a micro:bit for the first time and looked at it’s inputs and outputs.
• Created your first programs using the micro:bit.

Next lesson, you will…

• Look at the input-process-output loop.
• See how devices like the micro:bit are used in the internet of things.

• Upload a screenshot of your starter activity to Bourne to Learn.

• Upload a screenshot of your name badge program to Bourne to Learn.

• Upload a screenshot of your Explorer task code to Bourne to Learn.