I am a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at The College of New Jersey. This Fall I am teaching CSC 102: Introduction to Computational Thinking, a new course that challenges liberal learning students to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. Prior to this position I spent 42 years in applied research in industry, much of it with embedded systems.

I plan to discuss embedded systems throughout the course as the vast majority of computers my students will encounter in their lifetimes will be embedded ones. However, the computing resources I currently have available are desktop PCs. I would love to use the micro:bit Club pack to replace several of my planned desktop programming activities with embedded microcontroller projects.

Hi,  My name is Dana Mah,  I'm a electronics hobbyist, What I would like to do with this kit is come up with a series of simple projects to teach my kids coding.   Once the projects are proven out, I would like to have it introduced into their technology class at school.  The school does do some coding with scratch, but it would be nice to actually see real hardware working with their code. 

Thanks

Dana.

Hello I am a library professional in Chicago and I am in charge of programming at my branch. The combination of my graduate degrees in education and library science  have helped pave an important path involving STEM workshops at Chicago Public Library, with a strong focus on honing 21st Century skills and inspiring career pathways. As lead educator for six years I am always eager to curate meaningful materials and to introduce transformative resources to teens. Many of the teens (and respective parents) are unfamiliar with micro:bit and they rely heavily on their trusted community sources (mainly librarians and teachers) to access such information. Exposure to STEM topics is pivotal in demystifying career pathways for the Spanish-speaking population I work with. Many have demonstrated great interest in coding and programming computers, yet lack the financial means to purchase materials that can unleash their potential while learning through fun. It is my goal to expose teens and families to a wide range of resources and information that can positively impact their futures. 

I am a long time Amateur Radio Operator.  I am a retired Software and Hardware Engineer.

Amateur Radio has a term called “Uncle Elmer”.  That term is used to describe a Ham that takes one or more youngsters under their Wing to help them to become an Amateur Radio Operator.

I am am currently mentoring three youngsters.  When I work with them and we do something new to them, their eyes just light up with excitement.

The micro:bit system would allow me to provide a platform for the kids to use to develop

their microprocessor skills.  Tying the micro:bit system into Amateur radio would provide my kids with many different things to build and use in Ham Radio.

I would really appreciate the opportunity to unity to participate in your micro:bit program.

John J. Bahun

N6API

Hello, my name is Craig and i am a computer systems engineer for a cyber security company. I am currently in the process of starting a pilot after school program in the fall at a computer lab i recently opened up. I also run a Code Club for kids 8 - 13 to learn computer programming. All of this i have funded out of my own pocket and could really use the help with any hardware the kids can use for the opportunity to learn even more.

Thanks again for this great initiative!

Hi, I'm a student engineer & I also teach kids from time-to-time about electronics and robotics (here you can find one of my last classes: https://www.facebook.com/LBVPortugal/?tn-str=k*F ). Of course that a micro:bit would allows the kids to interact with different approaches to this awesome technologies.

Thank you for another great initiative :-)

Hi Dave,

Things are going well. We just started our 33rd year!  I also was too old to go, but my a few years more than you...

Hope all is going well with your school. Thanks for the good wishes.

Tom

My name is David and I am an engineer with 35+ years of software, hardware, and networking under my belt. Last year I started volunteer teaching at a Detroit Michigan high school as a tealks12.org volunteer teacher teaching computer science to both a class and a teacher to get them educated enough in CS they can teach it independently.

Many of these kids have few resources at home and the schools aren’t funded as well as many suburban schools.

Though the course curriculum is centered around software, I believe understanding the hardware a bit and how things work under the hood helps give a more complete picture. To that end last year I went to the local recycling place and got them to donate a bunch of PCs that were destined for the scrap heap. I brought a bunch of tools and we spent a day taking them apart, identifying parts and their functions, seeing how they all fit together to make a system, and even took some of the subsystems apart to see how they work (like the hard drive). Brought all the bones back the next day and showing pictures and telling how engaged the students were was told to come back anytime and we'll do it again this year.

Returning to volunteer teach again this year, I would like to extend the curriculum and add in programming some hardware you can actually hold in your hand and the Micro Bit is an ideal platform for it. I gave one to my 5 year old nephew last year for the holidays and have a video of him programming it to say his name – if a 5 year old can do that I can’t wait to see what the high school students do with it.

My name is Holly Herron, and I am a Computer Science teacher. This is my 31st year in a small rural school in Bigelow, Arkansas. I learned about micro:bits this summer at a training camp, and I loved having my hands on them and learning to code them. I know my students would love them also. Since we are such a small school, our funds are very limited, and unfortunately my school cannot purchase the micro:bits for my classroom. My 7th grade coding class is currently learning how to code them, but we have to use the simulator on the website. I know they would really love it more if they had them in their hands!

Hi my name is Joe Schmid.  I would love to start a robotics club at my children's school.

Budgets are tight and funding is tough to get. This kit, would be a great start.  I work in the

automation industry and know how important a basic knowledge of logic and controls is.

Best regards and thanks for supporting STEM education,

Joe Schmid