The Micro:bit microcontroller is a powerful(and affordable) programming and design platform that can be used to to easily build anything from robots to lie detectors. While this class is designed to introduce students to the process of coding with the Microbit, our projects will be anything but ordinary. We will learn how to use the Micro:Bit coding language MakeCode to use the Micro:Bit onboard sensors with powerful and sometimes humorous results. 

IMPORTANT: This is a FLEX class and does not have regularly scheduled Live lessons. Each week's lesson has a recorded video that is identical to the content that would be taught in the Live version of the class. Students can follow the lesson at their own pace and on their own schedule. Class and teacher interaction will take place in a variety of ways including Outschool messager as well as live Zoom meetings that can be scheduled. 

Each week of the class students will learn and experiment with a new and exciting programming skill. Each skill will be introduced through a detailed video tutorial with plenty of opportunity for students to make their own choices. collaborate with the teacher as well as the class. Each week's lesson will provide an open ended challenge to students to use their creativity and create their own Micro:Bit masterpiece using that week's skill.

Teacher - Student Collaboration
Students will be offered a variety of different ways we can work together as they program their Micro:Bits. I love when students ask question such as "How would I....?" or "Is this possible?". The essence of coding is creativity and invention so I be available to help students program solve a stubborn error or discover a new way to debug their programs. These interactions can be as simple as a message with attached code or we can schedule a live Zoom meeting to dig deeper into the challenge and discuss possible solutions. 

Student to Student Collaboration
Collaboration between students will be highly encouraged as we all benefit when we are able to look our own code through the eyes of our classmates. At the conclusion of each week we will hold a virtual "Maker Fair" where students are able to test out each of the classes codes and provide positive feedback to their classmates. Students will be encouraged to create "Remixes" of other student's codes and add their own personality to their favorite programs. I will also present students will the chance to "fix" a piece of broken code and explore the huge variety of ways students can choose when adding their own personality to a coding project. 

Weekly Class Agenda

Week 1 Theme 
Inputs, Inputs and More Inputs
Students will learn how to access the huge variety of Micro:Bit internal sensors and write code that will react to touch, motion, light and more! We will explore how to create interactive LED animations that will respond to the inputs we choose. 
Week 1 Maker Challenge: 
Students will create their own interactive animations that can use any or all of the inputs we have learned about in this lesson. Students will share their finished code and participate in our first student "Maker Fair" where they will be able to interact with all the creations made by their classmates.

Week 2 Theme 
Functions and a bit of Randomness
Students will learn how to code their Micro:Bits to create random responses to inputs. We go far beyond the Rock, Paper, Scissors tutorials that are usually the beginning and end of random number generation. We will create a "Magic 8 Ball" that will choose from the options you provide to interact with the user in sometimes hilarious ways. 
Week 2 Maker Challenge
Use your knowledge of Random Number Generation to create your own invention. You can use any of the inputs we have learned thus far and experiment with a variety of outputs such as text, images or even music. The finished code will be entered in our second Maker Fair to be held at the beginning of week 3

Week 3 Theme
Micro:Bits On The Radio?
What is better than one Micro:Bit? Two Micro:Bits working together. We will learn how to harness the Micro:Bit's internal radio system to allow Micro:Bits to send messages back and forth or even have one Bit serve as a remote control for the other. Micro:Bits can even play hide and go seek! We will program our Micro:Bit to serve as a "metal detector" for our second Micro:Bit and respond with the inputs of our choosing.
Week 3 Maker Challenge
Students will create their own radio based invention with access to all of the amazing sensors and outputs we have learned to this point. They can take our Micro:Bit Metal detector to a entirely new level or go in a completely different direction. Whatever the choice, it will be epic!

Week 4 Theme
Game Design
This week we will leap feet first into using our programming skills from our first two weeks to create our very own interactive game. We will discuss all the elements of a good game and learn how to create a hero, some enemies, track collisions and create a scoring system. Our finished game will provide the basis for students to work on their week 3 Maker challenge.
Week 4 Maker Challenge
Design and create an epic Micro:Bit game. Will your character respond to the A and B buttons, movement or a combination of your own creation.  What perils will your hero have to overcome? What will you call your game? It is all up to you!

Supplies:
Any of the following Micro:Bit Kits would be perfect for this class. There are two Micro:Bit devices required so any two of the kits below will work. Let me know if you have any questions and I will be glad to help. I have given several options since items do sell out on Amazon. A couple are a little more expensive, but come with more components. 

Micro:Bit Kits Compatible With This Class(Updated 11/3)
https://www.amazon.com/ELECFREAKS-BBC-Micro-Programming-Include/dp/B0B2836JNC/

https://www.amazon.com/KEYESTUDIO-Micro-Original-Microbit-Starter/dp/B08QRWF4MM/

https://www.amazon.com/Freenove-BBC-Micro-Development-MicroPython/dp/B09YRC7DK4/

https://www.amazon.com/Seeed-Studio-BBC-Micro-Accelerometer/dp/B0BDFD1ZM1/