🎯 Learning Objectives
Develop the Programming & Development, Algorithms Learning Strands:
- 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
💬 Key Vocabulary
- micro:bit
- Microcontroller
- Program
- USB
- .hex
- Download/upload
- Copy and Paste
- Blocks
- LED
📝 Starter Activity – Input and Output
- 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
- 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 micro:bit in Detail
- 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.
📖 Gold/Platinum – Name Badge
- 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.
🏅 Badge it
🥈 Silver Badge
- Upload a screenshot of your starter activity to Bourne to Learn.
🥇 Gold Badge
- Upload a screenshot of your name badge program to Bourne to Learn.
🥉 Platinum Badge
- Upload a screenshot of your Explorer task code to Bourne to Learn.