Micro:bit
...microbit, chemical, robot chain reaction built by students
CCITE Founder Adrian Oldknow started off the CCITE micro:bit initiative by writing a "First steps for Micro:bit" described below. His work immediately drove forward the KIKS project in Europe and can be seen in the KIKS section of the iSTEM+ MOODLE.
It has spawned many creative projects. Graham Hastings has produced wonderful material for those of many different ages, skill levels and technical confidence which are published on his website.
Graham has also written a scheme of work complete with background notes, lesson plans and teaching resources. It is intended for primary schools, teachers and children with no prior knowledge or experience of the micro:bit. ‘First Steps With The micro:bit’ is appropriate for Year 5 children and 'Further Steps With the micro:bit' is for Year 6. The scheme was created to raise awareness of the micro:bit and its phenomenal potential as a cheap and easy to use device for teaching the STE(A)M subjects, and so much more across the wider curriculum. The scheme has primarily been designed as a short teacher training course on the micro:bit but to make it more engaging and to exemplify teaching with the micro:bit it is based on ten practical lessons and two assessment sessions.
And here is Adrian' starter for ten alongside some excellent implementations:
First Steps with the micro:bit for cross-curricular STEM
"I have produced five starter guides for the BBC micro:bit: `computing with the micro:bit', `control and physical computing' , `data-logging and modelling', `robotics' and `using with PCs'.
"I have produced five starter guides for the BBC micro:bit: `computing with the micro:bit', `control and physical computing' , `data-logging and modelling', `robotics' and `using with PCs'.
The first explores the hardware design of the micro:bit and ways it can be used, the second is aimed towards DT, Computing and Electronics, the third towards Science and Mathematics, the fourth towards physical computing at KS2 upwards and the fifth towards interfacing with PC applications such as Excel, GeoGebra, Scratch and BASIC.
Together, I hope they will encourage schools to develop inspirational cross-curricular STEM projects, especially at Key Stages 2 (8-11) and 3 (11-14). The micro:bit is an amazing device as we all know. The establishment of the micro:bit Education Partnership ensures that it will continue to be well-supported, developed and adopted way beyond the original aim to put 1 million units in the hands of 11-year old students in the UK.
The going rate of around £15 means that it is affordable for kids of all ages to buy their own. But it also has great potential for use in schools within the normal curriculum, especially in the STEM subjects.
We are working with some secondary schools to develop the Student Digital Ambassador SDA initiative where keen GCSE and A-level students give some of their time and expertise to work with their STEM subject teachers to design resources and activities for cross-curricular projects. These are being introduced at KS3 in their own schools, and at KS2 in neighbouring Primary schools.