Add as a preferred source on Google


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

  • hand holding globe and environmental icons in front of a green background

    CoSN, SETDA, UDT Release Guidelines for Environmentally Responsible Technology Purchasing

    CoSN and SETDA, in partnership with IT and telecommunications solution provider UDT, recently released a set of Sustainability Procurement Guidelines designed to help K-12 school and district leaders, procurement officers, and technology directors make purchasing decisions that are both environmentally responsible and operationally effective.

  • woman holding a light bulb with computer laptop and notebook

    6 Ways to Energize STEM Classrooms

    How can schools make STEM exciting and relevant in preK-12 classrooms, without overwhelming teachers? Here are a few suggestions.

  • abstract generative AI technology

    Apple and Google Announce AI Deal to Bring Gemini Models to Siri

    Apple and Google have embarked on a multiyear partnership that will put Google's Gemini models and cloud technology at the core of the next generation of Apple Foundation Models, a move that could help Apple accelerate long-promised upgrades to Siri while handing Google a high-profile distribution win on the iPhone.

  • Red alert symbols and email icons floating in a dark digital space

    Report: Cyber Attackers Are Fully Embracing AI

    According to Google Cloud's 2026 Cybersecurity Forecast, AI will become standard for both cyber attackers and defenders, with threats expanding to virtualization systems, blockchain networks, and nation-state operations.