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microbit
micro:bit Blog BBC to give every 11-12 year-old in the UK a ‘Micro Bit’ Programmable Hardware Device
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  • Author Author: GardenState
  • Date Created: 17 May 2015 11:44 PM Date Created
  • Views 751 views
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  • bbc
  • programmable_hardware
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BBC to give every 11-12 year-old in the UK a ‘Micro Bit’ Programmable Hardware Device

GardenState
GardenState
17 May 2015

image

The UK is facing a significant skills shortage, with 1.4 million "digital professionals" estimated to be needed over the next five years. To meet this need the BBC has partnered with over 25 organizations in an initiative it calls “Make it Digital”, the centerpiece of which is a small programmable hardware device called Micro Bit; one million Micro Bits will be given without charge to all pupils starting secondary school (age 11-12) in the UK starting in the autumn term. In format the Micro Bit will be a standalone, wearable device with an LED display and a Bluetooth Smart wireless chip (from Nordic Semiconductor). Children will be able to program Micro Bit in a number of ways using entry-level coding by simply plugging into a computer.

 

The Micro Bit is designed to help youngsters start learning basic coding and programming, acting as a springboard for further learning and more advanced products like Arduino, Galileo, Kano and Raspberry Pi.

The first wave of partnerships in the Micro Bit program includes major corporations like ARM, Barclays, BT, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung as well as educational institutions and organizations across the industry, such as Apps for Good, British Computing Society, Code Club, ComputerScience4Fun, FutureLearn, iDEA, Nesta, TeenTech, Tech City UK, Tech Partnership and Young Rewired State.

 

In related news BBC’s “Make it Digital” also will include a traineeship to help up to 5,000 young unemployed people boost their digital skills and get a foot on the jobs ladder. Due to launch around the country this summer, the nine-week traineeship includes training from the BBC Academy. It will teach basic digital skills, such as creating simple websites and short videos for the web; involves major BBC brands such as Radio 1; and gets young people ready for work with employability skills and work placement.

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Top Comments

  • johnbeetem
    johnbeetem over 10 years ago +2
    Have they published the hardware details yet? The only thing I've seen on it is the BBC announcement from 12 March: BBC - The Micro Bit - Media Centre It just occurred to me that BBC is short-changing…
  • MAb
    MAb over 9 years ago +1
    there are more details issued on the program now. Have a look at Micro:bit Unveiled | Embedded Beat for Design Engineers
  • element14Dave
    element14Dave over 9 years ago

    Interested in the micro:bit? We're giving away 5 to be RoadTested! Click here to apply.

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  • MAb
    MAb over 9 years ago

    there are more details issued on the program now. Have a look at Micro:bit Unveiled | Embedded Beat for Design Engineers

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  • johnbeetem
    johnbeetem over 10 years ago

    Have they published the hardware details yet?  The only thing I've seen on it is the BBC announcement from 12 March: BBC - The Micro Bit - Media Centre

     

    It just occurred to me that BBC is short-changing those 11-year-olds if the Micro Bit is indeed "yet another ARM mini-board".  In honor of great British logicians like Bertrand Russell, Lewis Carroll, and of course George Boole, it should be an FPGA.  11 years old is a perfect time to teach logic.  "Logic!  Why don't they teach logic in these schools?" asks the Old Professor in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

     

    JMO/YMMV

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