Micro Bit Programming

I'm doing this project by myself, without a partner.  The materials I will need are, a computer, a micro bit, and a usb cable. My first plan was to make a fun game that people can play. I changed my plan because my first idea wasn't working. My new plan is to create useful items by coding the micro bit. I chose a compass and dice because people get lost a lot and people also lose their dice when they want to play a game. People can use the digital dice instead and always have them. The unique qualities of my project are that it will be useful to many people for lots of uses. Old people can use dice to play games like Yahtzee, little kids can use dice for games and to practice math, and people can decide who goes first by rolling the largest number. People can use a compass to find their way. 

Summary

I used a micro bit and a computer, I created dice and a compass because I wanted to make useful things that people can use in their everyday life. There have been lots of times that I wanted to play games but the dice was missing. Dice are small and easy to lose. Using a random number generator is easy to use and hard to loose. A compass is useful to help people find their way. I really like learning about survival situations and having a compass is important in survival. Many different types of people can use what I created. Old people can use the dice for games, little kids can use the dice to learn math, and even people that want to decide who goes first can roll the dice. And everyone should have a compass when they go out into the wilderness. 

During this process I learned that it takes hard work to create a program and have it work exactly like I wanted. I learned how to program a micro bit and the steps to make it work. Before this class, I did not know a micro bit existed. Now I know how to make programs like a compass and dice. I would like to make a watch and a step counter next with loud noises to annoy people. 

The 7 standards of the class are Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Knowledge Constructor, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, Creative Communicator, and Global Collaborator. My project ties to Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Knowledge Constructor, and Innovative Designer. I used www.mrrenner.com to find out about the 7 standards. I am an Empowered Learner because I had to choose my own project and create what I wanted to make. I am a Digital Citizen because I used my materials in a safe and ethical way. I am a Knowledge Constructor because I had to go online and google how to make my PacMan project and I used the information to make it. I am an Innovative Designer because I had to think about a unique plan and carry out my ideas. I had to think of a project on my own and I wanted to create something useful. I had problems that I came across and had to think of ways around it.  

A problem I overcame in this project was finding out the PacMan project was too hard for my skill level. I only had three days left in the project. It was hard to know my limits and to be honest about what I could actually make. I overcame this by choosing a project that I could handle and that would also be useful and fun. I thought the PacMan idea was really cool and I wanted a game that no one else was making. I had to choose a different direction. I decided to make something that wasn't just for fun but that people could actually use.

Given the chance to do this again, I would change the way I used my time. The reason I would change it is because I got hung up on a project that was too hard for me just because it seemed really cool. Once I decided to make useful things like dice and a compass, I really got into it. I would use my time to make more things that are useful to a lot of people. I wasted time trying to make PacMan and then making high pitched sounds. I would like to make a step counter and watch to go with my compass and dice. I would like to have a micro bit at home to make these things. I had fun making things that could help people.

Hastings High School Career and Technical Education Program offers Agriculture, Business Management, Computer Programming, Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, Digital Multimedia, Engineering Design, Finance, Insurance, Marketing.  My project connects to the Computer Programming CTE program at Hastings High School.  My project connects to careers in Computer Programming and Coding like video game developer, software developer, and web developer. I looked up other coding jobs but these were the ones I was most interested in. I think it would be really fun and interesting to be a video game developer. I would like to create my own games to play.