Originally Posted By Nathan Bristow on March 24, 2019
For my Assignment 3, I’ve been examining the role of microprocessor platforms and their role in education: specifically the micro:bit created by the BBC and currently in distribution in the NWT.
A3 – Micro:bits
9 responses to “A3 – Micro:bits”
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Several years ago I was sent to a PD about the T-PACK model which really changed my outlook on technology in the classroom. Shortly after this PD I began to look at how SmartBoards were not typically being utilized in classrooms. Personally, I used them for no more than a whiteboard or a projector screen. Since this PD I have been much more thoughtful when I have given suggestions about technology. As such, when my VP asked me about new tech since we just went through renos and had a large budget for new tech and I put a lot of thought into the technology we should purchase. Initially, I was wanting to get more Spheros for coding, they have been great. However, then I thought about the limitations and the monetary cost. However, I had recently been to a PD with Microbits, which have a much lower cost, and I believe they have a lot more uses than a Sphero. For my son’s LA unit on Harry Potter I actually made one into a sorting hat, which was very easy to do, and students were quite interested in it. This particular tool has many possibilities that can fit into different subject areas.
Originally Posted By Matt
This video starts with brief introduction to the idea of microprocessors and then introduces BBC’s MicroBit. It gives a quick look at the board’s features and components and also lists many of the possible connections that can be added to it for multiple purposes. It also gives some demonstration of its potential uses (ie. lights etc). I thought this video was very well made and informative as I had never heard of this product before. In a way, it seems more like a review/how-to video for the MicroBit itself than a forecast of how the future will be changed/shaped by it. It lists some positive beneftis of using MicroBits (“affordable”, “expandable”, makes coding “approachable and fun”). So as a review/how-to, this was great. I would have liked to hear a little more about how this can change and/or enhance mobility in the future. I would have liked to hear more explanation on how the MicroBit taking students from “consumers to developers” will re-shape mobility and education. Overall though, neatly made and well presented.
Originally Posted By Brian Haas
As someone who loves electronics and has had a fair amount of experience with things like Arduino I think these micro:bits are a viable mobile technology for helping kids get excited about programming and prototyping. Products like this are great at, like you said, turning students in the problem solvers and not just consumers. My question for you is where do you see things like this going in the next 10-15 years? How can we get tech like this in more classrooms? As of now I think this is kind of niche educational area that most teachers are afraid to experiment with.
Originally Posted By Marc Tavares @marctav
Well-presented video and I really liked the idea of an unboxing style video. Microcomputing is really neat and although I don’t have much experience with them in the classroom, I do run a media server off my raspberry pi. I’m excited to see how much smaller these chips will get in the future for applications such as kids programming their own smart watches and activity trackers. I also wasn’t very familiar with block editing capabilities and really do see us heading towards a relatively code less future where kids learn how to train these computers, not code them. I would have liked to hear a bit more on your thoughts on the future and how you anticipate students using these microcomputers, but I found this a valuable resource.
Originally Posted By Rebecca @shinduke
I also enjoyed the presentation style. I agree with Matts’ comment on wanting to know more about the future and how this relates to mobility. Thank you for introducing me to this product. It wasn’t one that I had heard about before.
Originally Posted By Vincent Dong @ydong09
Hi Nathan, thanks for your sharing. Your video demo shows me the potential of this hardware in maker education. I am also curious about what the advantages of this device are compared to other hardware such as Raspberry Pi. At present, the concepts related to coding camp and maker education are prevalent in China, and many schools and startups have also made some useful explorations in teaching practice, as maker education can cultivate children’s creativity and hands-on ability, which are essential abilities in the era of artificial intelligence. My daughter has been very interested in Scratch recently, and I also took her to Apple Store to experience the coding lab program, Sphero Robot Obstacle Challenge. My observation is that most students are interested in these activities generally, and they have a strong willingness to attend these learning activities and further develop themselves in this field. However, many parents hesitate to allocate children’s time, and energy to non-core courses considering children have limited spare time, which results in the sustainability of Maker education. Could you please share your thoughts and recommendations in this regard? Cheers!
Originally Posted By eric bankes @ebankes
Nathan; I’ve heard of microbits before, but never actually used one. I teach robotics and I work with raspberry pi and Arduino a lot with my students. These type of learning tools are amazing learning experiences for students. I didn’t know you could program them using a mobile device that’s very interesting. I’ve been block coding with students now for a couple years. It’s a great place to get started with coding skills then throwing a student into the Arduino IDE or python. I personally use scratch which is extremely similar. From their they can develop an understanding of programming before they try and work with text-based coding. Certainly, this is one of the most important skills that we can work with children on. As we begin to move into a world of automation our students are going to need to begin developing these skills at a young age. Thank you for sharing your experience with them. In fact, I am going to purchase some and add it to my grade 8 rotation along with my Mbot’s. Eric
Originally Posted By benson chang @changb
Neat unboxing-esque video for Microbits. I have played around with them during Pro-D sessions, but never ran with them in the classroom. I have always seen Microbits as something that works very well for an individual, either as a hobby or part of a small voluntary group. How well does Microbit scale to using it in the classroom and are Microbits future proof? My primary concern is that even though Microbits do not cost that much in the grand scheme of things, it does not replace any technology, as such becomes an additional add-on. As far as I can tell, for programming purposes, a Microbit is unnecessary. Where Microbit shines is the ability to do “cool things” that interact with the physical world. With computers, different students can use the same computer at different times and continue their work due to separate accounts and profiles, but Microbits do not have that option. The need to flash the Microbit, and the very benefit of a modular system becomes problematic when it has to be shared.
Originally posted by Sarah Wong @sfung
Hi Nathan, this was a good review of current product that is designed for the education market. I’ve never hear of micobits before but I am familiar with audrino and rasberry pi devices and this seems to be something along the lines of those products. This is a great introduction on a resource that can be used in the subjects of STEM and Science.