Introduction to Micro:bit With MakeCode

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Location: Room 348-9
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Explore and create : Creation lab

Katie Henry
Jacqueline Russell
MakeCode is a "making-and-coding" programming language with a powerful simulator for making games and creating technological solutions in any classroom. It uses a block-based language, JavaScript or Python. In this hands-on session, we'll work through micro:bit activities with MakeCode. No tools required.

Audience:	Coaches, Curriculum/district specialists, Teachers
Skill level:	Beginner
Attendee devices:	Devices required
Attendee device specification:	Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC Tablet: Android, iOS, Windows
Participant accounts, software and other materials:	www.makecode.microbit.com
Topic:	Computer science & computational thinking
Grade level:	6-8
Subject area:	Computer science, STEM/STEAM
ISTE Standards:	For Educators: Designer Use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs. For Students: Computational Thinker Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.

Proposal summary

Purpose & objective

The purpose of this presentation is for educators to increase their computer science skills and confidence by learning how to use free web-based tools for their classrooms and seeing how other educators implement them in a variety of education settings.

Participants will be able to:
-Program inputs (temperature sensor, buttons, microphone, compass, radio) and outputs (LEDs and speaker) on a physical computing device
-Code a physical computing tool to log data for visualization and interpretation.
-Integrate physical computing into computer science and interdisciplinary courses.

Note on accessibility: These learning resources can be adapted with Microsoft Immersive Reader (free accessibility tool integrated into tutorials) to help students who are blind and low vision utilize these tools. Each of these resources are translated into between six and thirty-two languages.

Example activities:

1) Tutorials https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/
2) Tutorials https://makecode.microbit.org/
3) Lesson plans https://microbit.org/lessons/
4) Design challenges https://microbit.org/projects/do-your-bit/

We will use exemplars (by permission) from educators and students around the world.

Example: https://microbit.org/news/2021-09-27/students-invent-asthma-prevention-idea/

Outline

10 min - Introductions of presenters and attendees. Share why you came today.
15 min - Participants each code a musical name badge (hands on, everyone makes something)
15 min - Participants create a dog-bark counter (or some other data logging device) - (hands on, everyone makes something)
10 min - Participants review and explore accessibility features of Make code.
15 minutes - Participants review and explore advanced programming techniques and Github integrations
All remaining time: teaching with the micro:bit: hear from expert practitioners through video clips, photos, and lesson plans, participants share their own experiences for discussion and feedback. Q and A.

Supporting research

aka.ms/MakeCodeResearch

aka.ms/PhysicalComp

https://microbit.org/impact/research/

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Presenters

Katie Henry, Micro:bit Educational Foundation

Katie is the Head of Partner Engagement for the Micro:bit Educational Foundation in North America. She has worked in education for more than ten years, training thousands of educators worldwide on the topics of computer science and digital creativity. Katie is a licensed school administrator and computer technology coach.

Jacqueline Russell, Microsoft Corporation