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As a primary school teacher and EdTech coach, I've seen firsthand how physical computing devices can transform the coding experience for young learners. Today, I want to share my experiences with micro:bits - small, programmable devices that have become an invaluable tool in my classroom.
What is a micro:bit?
A micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer that introduces students to how software and hardware work together. It has an LED light display, buttons, sensors, and can connect to other devices and the internet. What makes it special for education is its versatility and accessibility - it can be programmed using both block-based coding (perfect for beginners) and text-based coding with Python (great for more advanced students).
The beauty of micro:bits lies in their physicality. While screen-based coding certainly has its place, there's something magical about seeing your code manifest in the real world - whether it's a step counter, a nightlight that activates in darkness, or a prototype for an ocean health monitor.
Real-world applications in the primary classroom
Recently in my Year 6 classroom, we've been using micro:bits to support our lessons on sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Here are two projects that particularly engaged our students:
Ocean Health Monitor: Students created a system where two micro:bits communicated via radio. One micro:bit gathered data (temperature, direction, accelerometer readings) and transmitted it to another micro:bit. This served as a prototype for how scientists might monitor ocean health in the real world.
Oil Spill Cleaner Simulation: Students programmed a sprite on the micro:bit's LED display to systematically cover the entire screen, simulating how an automated drone might clean an oil spill using specialised materials.
These projects not only taught coding concepts but connected to our broader curriculum goals around environmental science and sustainability.
Overcoming barriers to implementation
Many educators feel intimidated by new technology - not knowing what micro:bits are used for or how to get them set up can feel like hitting a brick wall, especially for those less confident with tech. Here's my advice for getting started:
Start simple: Begin with the basic tutorials on the micro:bit website
Connect with purpose: Link projects to your existing curriculum
Encourage collaboration – Have students work in pairs or small groups to discuss their coding ideas, troubleshoot problems, and build teamwork skills.
Incorporate real-world challenges – Engage students by designing projects that solve real problems, such as environmental monitoring, step counters, or interactive games.
Leverage built-in sensors – Explore the micro:bit’s accelerometer, temperature sensor, radio communication, and light sensor to create exciting hands-on experiments.
Encourage trial and error – Reinforce a growth mindset by celebrating mistakes as part of the learning process. Debugging is an essential part of coding!
Benefits beyond coding
While coding skills are valuable, using micro:bits delivers several additional benefits:
Engagement: Physical computing is inherently more exciting for many students
Ownership: Students take pride in creating something tangible
Real-world relevance: The projects can solve actual problems or serve real purposes
Cross-curricular connections: Particularly strong links to science (like creating conductivity testers) and sustainability education
Resources to get you started
If you're interested in incorporating micro:bits into your teaching, here are some helpful resources:
The micro:bit website offers numerous projects, guides, and lesson plans
My website Primary EdTech Project has a section dedicated to coding and robotics
Check out my new YouTube video that covers unboxing, connecting, and your first micro:bit project
Final thoughts
Technology in education should never be about the tools themselves, but rather about the learning experiences they enable. Micro:bits have proven to be a versatile, engaging platform that helps my students not just learn to code, but to think critically, solve problems, and connect their learning to the world around them.
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