Micro:bit Foundation Brings Small-Board Computer to United States and Canada Classrooms

Image: Micro:bit Educational Foundation.

The Micro:bit Educational Foundation, based in the United Kingdom, today opened up availability to its small-board computer for education customers in the United States and Canada.        

The micro:bit is designed by BBC for use in computer science classes and priced starting at $14.95, according to information from the nonprofit organization. It is roughly the size of a credit card and comes equipped with 25 LEDs that can display simple images and text; a variety of sensors; as well as two programmable buttons. Additionally, the micro:bit can connect to other devices via Bluetooth.

Since it’s meant to teach students computational and critical thinking skills, it can be programmed via PC, tablet or mobile using Scratch, a block-based coding language from MIT, through an extension, or the block- and text-based Microsoft MakeCode.

The Micro:bit Foundation last year delivered the device to 1 million year 7 students across the United Kingdom. Now, the nonprofit aims to put the small-board computer in the hands of 2 million U.S. and Canada students by 2020, according to information from the company.

The Micro:bit Educational Foundation will be exhibiting at the annual ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) conference next week, June 25-28 in San Antonio, TX, in booth #3241.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • The First Steps of Establishing Your Cloud Security Strategy

    In this guide, we'll identify some first steps you can take to establish your cloud security strategy. We'll do so by discussing the cloud security impact of individual, concrete actions featured within the CIS Critical Security Controls® (CIS Controls®) and the CIS Benchmarks™.

  • Human Error Remains the Leading Cause of Cloud Data Breaches

    Human error is still one of the biggest threats to cloud security, despite all the technology bells and whistles and alerts and services out there, from multi-factor authentication, to social engineering training, to enterprise-wide integrated cybersecurity platforms, and more.

  • Abstract illustration of a human news reporter interviewing an AI with a microphone

    AI on AI in Education: A Dialogue

    Scholars are doing lots of asking and predicting about the risks and rewards of generative artificial intelligence in school, but has anyone asked the all-knowing chatbots?

  • Pattern of desks with interconnected circles, triangles, and lines

    Classroom Furniture Giveaway Seeks Dream Learning Space Design

    Educators have a chance to design their ideal K-12 learning space in a contest recently announced by classroom furniture manufacturer KI.