Construct physical circuits using inputs and outputs on the BBC micro:bit. Finally, make and code 3 different robots using the Micro:bot kit

01 : INTRODUCTION

02 : LED AND BUTTONS

03 : TIME, TILT & ROTATION

04 : DIGITAL READ CODE

05 : ANALOGUE READ CODE

06 : MICROBOT BODY

07 : CUSTOMISATION

08 : ARTBOT

09 : ARTBOT CHALLENGE

10 : ROOMBOT

11 : GOLFBOT

12 : RADIO CONTROL

CODING AND CREATING DIY ROBOTICS

MICRO:BOT

CODING AND CREATING DIY ROBOTICS

MICRO:BIT WORKSHOP GUIDE

Welcome to the Microbit Explorer SessionsThis 12 week plan is a curated a set of Makes from the TWSU archive that aims to progress Makers through making with the BBC Micro:bit. It is by no means exhaustive, and deviation in response to your groups interests is encouraged!

MakesThe sessions refer to Makes, which are online step by step tutorials on the TWSU Make platform. We are constantly adding new Makes to the online archive, all of which are free to use. There are loads more online than are used here, and these are great extension or alternative activities. Even if you finish this scheme of work, there is still plenty to make and do for free on the TWSU make platformIf there is a Make that doesn’t exist that you think should, let us know. If you want it, others probably do too

https://make.techwillsaveus.com

Make AccountAll Makers can set up their own free Make account to help them store their code and track making progress.

ResourcesEvery session requires that Makers have access to:• Computer with internet access• Micro USB cable• BBC micro:bitAdditional resources needed are listed at the bottom of each session.

PlatformThere are several different coding platforms for the Micro:bit, but the TWSU Makes all use the Javascript block editor: https://makecode.microbit.org

CreativityEvery Make has the potential to be unique and we aim to provide space for Makers to explore their creativity. We celebrate risk taking and failure as much as success.

When things go wrong...We embrace the fact that Making can be as frustrating as it is rewarding, and we hope this is something you can communicate to your Makers too. Making mistakes is a critical part of how we learn, and often allows that ‘Ureka’ moment to happen. Allow the physical and emotional space to make these mistakes.

Cross CurriculumThe very nature of these sessions means that they encompass STEAM through coding, maths, design, physics and cardboard engineering.

SharingCelebrate your Makers work by sharing with your communityWe always love seeing what people Make, so why not send us a photo of your finished projects for us to share online with our own global maker community at:make@techwillsaveus.com

EnjoyMaking is fun!

MICRO:BIT 01 : INTRODUCTION

Explore - The BBC Micro:bit through physical investigation and it’s first experienceUnderstand - The coding environment by writing a scrolling text code and upload processApply - Your knowledge by uploading your first code to the Micro:bit

Intro to the micro:bit (20 minutes)

Get started with your BBC Micro:bit and begin to understand the great things it can do. Learn how to power it up, use the screen for text and patterns, use the buttons, interact with the accelerometer, and play games.

Make sure everyone finds the components on the Micro:bit as you talk about them. You could even use magnifying glasses to encourage close inspection.

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 micro:bit

Scrolling text (20 minutes) This is an opportunity to introduce the block based javascript coding platform. It is also a chance to ensure everyone is confident making and flashing their first simple code onto the Micro:bit. This session is very simple to allow time to iron out any initial problems.

Review (10 minutes)

What is the difference between a micro-controller and a computer?What is the difference between a compass and an accelerometer?Fact: a Micro:bit has gone into space, find out when and why?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 02 : LEDS AND BUTTONS

Explore - LED outputs and button inputs by using code to create different light animationsUnderstand - How to code button inputs and light output Apply - By creating a simple micro pet that responds to button presses

Make: Pocket Pet 1 (20 minutes)First, skip the ears and follow steps together as a group to code the lights using the BASIC MENU and intersection with the INPUT MENU.Run through as a group, then individuals/pairs can repeat code on their own.

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 Micro:bit

Make: Pocket Pet 2 (20 minutes)

Add animations and a shakes to trigger a worried face.

Has everyone:Used the block programming successfully?Uploaded their first MicroPet code?

Review (10 minutes)

What could you add to this code to make it better?What other inputs can you see on the Micro:bitWhat other inputs did you see in the code blocks?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 03 : TIME,TILT & ROTATION

Explore - The use of a timer and internal sensors to detect rotationUnderstand - How to code movement responsesApply - By creating a more complex responsive pet inside a cardboard net construction

Code Micro Pet - the net (20 minutes)

Make the body.

Either using the template files and card, or going crazy making your own using whatever you want, make the body of your pet!

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 Micro pet downloadable net1 Micro:bit1 scissors/craft knife1 strong glue

Code Micro Pet - (20 minutes)

Choose your level of code difficulty.Level 1 Simple static faces by tilting and shaking the Micro:bitLevel 2 Expands on Micro Pet 1 by adding loneliness.Level 3 Full face animation and a waking up and singing feature.

Review (10 minutes)

What is the difference between hardware and software ?Which did you enjoy the most, coding, making or both?Can you think of anything that uses a tilt sensor?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 04 : DIGITAL READ CODE

Explore - The PINS menu and adding a physical circuit to the Micro:bitUnderstand - How to create a simple binary button circuit and use a digital read codeApply - By making a simple security box using digital read/write code blocks

What is an digital input? (10 minutes)

Pair share/group share ideas and knowledge about what a digital input is.

Discuss how a Digital input can only say if it is on or off. 1 or 0. Like a light switch.

Were would you find them in our world?Can you see one from where you are sitting?

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 micro:bit4 crocodile clips1 box/jarcopper tape

Make: Micro Guardian (30 minutes)

This make uses a glass jar to make a simple button that is used as an alarm. This can be substituted in your group with any small box, either made of card or wood.Ask the group if this circuit could work with a metal box.

Review (10 minutes)

How would you define an digital input?Where can you find pressure buttons like this used in our world?How could you take this project to the next level?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 05 : ANALOGUE READ CODE

Explore - Analogue inputsUnderstand - How to create a variable resistor and use an analogue read codeApply - Make a basic 101 style Synth using analogue read code blocks

What is an analogue input? (10 minutes)

Pair share/group share ideas and knowledge about what an analogue input is.

Discuss how an analogue input can give a number from a range of values. Like a thermometer.

Were would you find them in our world?Can you see one from where you are sitting?Consolidate the difference between analogue and digital.

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 micro:bit4 crocodile clips1 buzzer/headphones1 piece paper1 pencil (graphite)

Make: Micro Graphite (30 minutes)

Use a simple Graphite line as a variable conductor to change the pitch of a sound generated by the Micro:bit

Where else do you find variable resistors?

Review (10 minutes)

How would you define an analogue input?Where can you find a variable resistor being used in our world?What did you find out about the conductivity of a graphite line?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 06 : MICROBOT BODY

Explore - The components used to make a microbotUnderstand - How to connect them in a working circuitApply - By making a working microbot

Meet the Micro:bot kit

Now you have been introduced to the Micro:bit, you are going to combine it with the components inside the Micro:bot kit to make a basic robot that you can customise and adapt to create 3 different bots;

Artbot, Roombot and Golfbot.

Showing the video at the end of the MAKE first can give them an idea of what is ahead!

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR1 Micro:bot kit1 Micro:bit1 small cross head screwdriver

Review (10 minutes)

Can you remember the components used to make the Micro:bot?Should we expect things we make to work first time? Why?Remind group to bring in scraps/items to customise next week.

MAKE: Build your Micro:bot body (40 minutes)

Before building the 3 bots, you need to build the base body. You only need to do this once, and then you can reuse the same body for all 3 bots.

Start with the card body using the box

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 07 : CUSTOMISATION

Explore - The possibilities of customising the micro:botUnderstand - How to add style without changing functionApply - By creating a distincive unique micro:bot

Why customise ( 10 minutes)

Design adds desirability to a lot of tech. Think about the impact Apple had on computer design, from Geek to Sleek.

Remember, it has to look good AND still function

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR1 pre made micro:botgluetapecraft resources

Get Creative (30 minutes)

A supply of Washi tapes, glue, coloured paper, felt pens, and anything else you can get your hands on to help the group create unique Micro:bots.

Review (10 minutes)

Did your design work without affecting the Micro:bots movement? Does design change your relationship with an object?What about objects that look great but are hard to use (high heels)?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 08 : ARTBOT

Explore - Using the Microbot as a drawing toolUnderstand - How coding servos will make the Artbot move in different waysApply - By using code to draw shapes and patterns

Artbot (30 minutes)

ArtBot is the artistic robot. However, it only draws what you code it to draw, and we’re teaching you how to code it so it does all sorts of shapes and patterns. Remember that the code uses time, not distance as a measure of movement.

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR1 built Micro:bot1 brush tip pen1 roll of drawing paper (per group)1 roll of tape

Review (10 minutes)

What was easy/hard?Could you predict and control the shapes you were drawing?What did you find out about the direction of the servos?

Prepare your drawing area (10 minutes)

Now the body of your robot is done, you’re going to use it as the first awesome robot: ArtBot.

There are going be a lot of robots all drawing at the same time, so you need a lot of floor space to draw on.

Tape a roll of paper in strips to the floor, making sure you have no bumps or edges for the Micro:bots to get caught on.

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 09 : ARTBOT CHALLENGE

Explore -The relationship between servo values and movementUnderstand - How to adjust the values to get a desired outcomeApply - By attempting the Maze challenge

Coding directions refresher (10 minutes)

As a group, refresh your skills at directing the Micro:bot by coding uploading and testing a simple movement, such as moving in a square or the straight line code shown here.This ensures that everyone has shared or up-skilled ready to try the Micro:bot Maze Challenge.

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR1 built Micro:bot1 roll of tape

Micro:bot Maze Challenge (30 minutes)

Find a big expanse of floor, like a hall or corridor, and make a large collective maze or obstacle course that the group can use their individual Micro:bots to attempt to complete.

This should be a fun and noisy session where sharing of coding tips is to be encouraged and celebrated. Knowledge is to be shared for the good of all.

Can the group help get everyone’s Micro:bot to the end?

Review (10 minutes)

What did you find hardest about attemping the Maze?Did anyone collaborate?Is knowledge something that we should share or sell ?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 10 : ROOMBOT

Explore - Using found materials to make a sensorUnderstand - How to add the code for a digital read inputApply - By making a working collision detector for the Micro:bot

Make: Roombot (20 minutes)

Adapt the Artbot by adding a collision detection mechanismUsing tinfoil, we’re going to create a circuit between the flap and the body. When they touch, the RoomBot knows it collided against something and will change direction.

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 built Micro:bot1 roll of kitchen foil (per group)1 roll of tape2 crocodile clips

Arena Time (20 minutes)

Create an arena to test out your Roombots collision detection. Walls, feet, chairs, other Roombots.

It’s arena time!

Review (10 minutes)

Is there anyway you could turn this into a game?Would you call this artificial intelligence?Is AI a good thing?

Notes:

MICRO:BIT 11 : GOLFBOT

Explore - How to make an iteration of an existing creationUnderstand - How to combine codes and sensors in different waysApply - By making a Golfbot

Make: Golfbot (20 minutes)

The GolfBot is the sporty robot. You’ll create your very own game of crazy golf while learning about how to make it move autonomously. When you putt a hole the GolfBot will move to a new random place allowing you to continue the game!

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 built Micro:botBallGolf club or similar

Crazy Golf Time (20 minutes)

Create a space to test out your Golfbots.Raid the sports cupboard for hockey sticks and table tennis, golf or squash balls for a mash up game of DIY Crazy Golf.

Notes:

Review (10 minutes)

How is this a progression from the Roombot?How else could you tweak the code to change its function?How is code like this used in industry?

MICRO:BIT 12 : RADIO CONTROL

Explore - Wireless communication with the Micro:botUnderstand - How wireless can communicate on different channelsApply - By collectively controlling Micro:bots remotely

Make: Micro:bot Radio Control (20 minutes)

Micro:bits can send messages to each other through radio signals! Follow this tutorial in pairs to control a Micro:bot using another Micro:bit as a remote control.

RESOURCES PER PERSON/PAIR:1 built Micro:bot1 Micro:bit

Try it out (20 minutes)

See how far away you can be and still control it! There are lots of other ways you can control with the Micro:bit, try changing the inputs and see what happens!

Review (10 minutes)

What did you learn Radio control?What are it’s benefits and disadvantages?What else uses Radio signals as a form of input?

Notes: