Students coding interactive programmable devices

Students have been programming devices with a built-in compass, temperature, light, and acceleration sensors, buttons, and LED lights using Scratch, JavaScript and MakeCode block software. The credit card sized devices they programmed are called micro:bits.

Students adapted tutorials and coded measurement, communication, and game applications. Some students used radio signals to send morse code between devices. Others created digital watches, fitness trackers, sensors, and an application to track energy consumption. 

The class of Y6-8 students worked in small collaborative groups. Another class of students from a number of schools worked individually. Both groups shared their code, and hints to help other learners.

The software is available free of charge. Resources to support teaching with these devices were shared with students' class teachers, and most then purchased micro:bits to use at their schools.