BBC micro:bit for Year 7 Students

This week, Year 7 students are receiving their free BBC micro:bit devices in their computing lessons. This is part of a national project to help foster and inspire a lifelong interest in computer science.

The BBC micro:bit is a very simple computer. It is programmed by using another device (smartphone, tablet, PC, iPad etc.) to write the program, which is then compiled and downloaded onto the BBC micro:bit.

The device has a display made up of 25 LEDs and some simple input controls that can be used in a number of ways.

It is small enough to slip into a pocket or even wear. The BBC micro:bit offers a gentle introduction to programming. Students are invited to switch on, program it to do something fun, wear it, customise it, and put new ideas into action.

It can be programmed to show words or shapes, tell the time or play games. It is designed to be a starting point to engage young people to become interested in coding so they can move on to other, more sophisticated, devices in future.

The department is also a running a summer competition with prizes for the most creative use of a micro:bit device. All of the details are in the student pack.

Mr King – Head of Computing.