Expand Learning Possibilities With Your Existing Micro:bits

Purpose & objective

This session will highlight multiple subject area lessons that utilize microbits to teach the concepts. Using Strawbees, Finch, & HummingBird kits we will highlight how educators can use their existing microbits to expand student engagement and learning.
Lesson 1: Learn about the essential role plants offer for sustaining life on earth. Covered in the lesson is going through the parts, processes, and full life cycle of plants. Students will create a flower that senses light and responds to the stimuli in its environment, opening and closing with light. (Strawbees)
Lesson 2: Design a system to measure the distance between points A and B using a distance sensor at a third point C. The distances CA and CB can change, but the angle ACB is always a right angle. (HummingBird Kits)
Lesson 3: Bring a story or character to life through movement, light, and sound. Include the Finch as a character in a play or skit you put on. Move the Finch on stage at the appropriate time, and have it move, light up, and make sounds based on how the character should behave in the story. (Finch)

Testimonial from SARAH MAGNER Innovation Lab Teacher, Oakton, VA
"I can honestly say that teaching the students to program robots from BirdBrain Technologies has been my favorite unit all year. They come to the classroom excited to learn and try new ideas!"

There is loads of research to support the success of both the products and the lessons used in this session. Much of this data can be found here:
https://www.birdbraintechnologies.com/about-us/research/

Outline

Intro of products being used and their platform access details & lesson overviews: 10 min
Break attendees into groups to complete the lesson that best fits their curriculum area or grade level. - 40 min
Discussion and wrap up - 10 min

Supporting research

This research states that the application of computing skills to ‘real world’ and a more joined-up teaching of how computing applies within subjects' aids in student understanding.
https://cdn.sanity.io/files/ajwvhvgo/production/2404a7270e9628685b9a565226b0ed2c0646f4d7.pdf?dl=Discovery%20Research.pdf

This research illustrates the ease of use and affordability of microbit specifically used in classrooms. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/creating-cool-stuff--pupils-experience-of-the-bbc-microbit(80f61485-a5a5-4763-af9b-8d643523b55f).html

This research notes how microbit-type interfaces are used as tools in three major and sometimes overlapping areas: computer Science education, creative and engineering design education, and traditional science and math education. It details how and why micro bits are educationally successful tools.
https://www.ri.cmu.edu/pub_files/2010/5/tl_thesis-5.pdf

A study by the Department of Educational Research at Lancaster University was undertaken to evaluate ongoing uses of micro:bit devices in UK secondary schools.
https://microbit.org/impact/research/

A report from the School of Computing and Communications at Lancaster University focuses on "children’s (ages 9–10) likely uses of the micro:bit and an exploration of their implications...". Children imagined using the micro:bit for a range of purposes, from assistance with personal tasks, education, companionship and play.
http://www.research.lancs.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/what-childrens-imagined-uses-of-the-bbc-microbit-tells-us-about-designing-for-their-iot-privacy-security-and-safety(6c5611f8-c9f9-4718-8c92-4aab29eebd17).html