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A Micro:bit is a wearable piece of technology which can be programmed to do tons of cool things much like a tiny, pocket-sized computer.

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One million UK school kids have been handed a mini piece of technology, just ahead of Easter.
Year 7 students across the UK have been given a BBC micro:bit - a small, wearable piece of tech that can be programmed to do a number of nifty things.

Much like a tiny, pocket-sized computer, the BBC micro:bit encourages kids to learn basic coding and programming skills to prepare them for today's tech-savvy world. It follows on from the BBC Micro, which helped introduce the nation to computing back in the 1980s - when computers looked a whole lot different to the cool ones we have today!

The micro:bit can be programmed to do a number of different things, it can be a digital watch, games console. fitness tracker or a

The device features 25 LED lights and two programmable buttons, which can be used in game-play or to skip through tracks in a playlist. It also features an on-board compass to track the direction of the wearer.

Each micro:bit comes with a USB, cable and battery holde r.

To programme a micro:bit, kids simply need to connect it to their computer and add some simple lines of code to create the device they want.

The hope is that all those computer science skills might inspire a new generation of avid game developers, super software programmers and wacky website builders. Your BBC micro:bit could be where it all starts...

What can I do with my BBC micro:bit?

Fashion - make a digital watch, brooch or other accessory that can display the time, your own design or message.

Fitness - count your steps with a DIY version of something like the 'Fitbit', or create an obstacle course and use the micro:bit in a balancing game.

Games - create retro mobile phone games everybody loved like ' Snake ' or your very own game ideas. Or try using it as a scoreboard or timer for other sorts of games.

Music - connect the micro:bit to your phone and control your music player, compose a piece of music, or even use a banana as a music keyboard!

Cooking - create a digital egg timer, or attach the micro:bit to a thermometer to get the perfect temperature for your Mary Berry Victoria Sponge.

Home & garden - place a sensor in the soil and connect it to the micro:bit, it can tell you when the plant is happy with a simple smile 🙂 or is in need of a drink with a frown 🙁

Check out more BBC micro:bit ideas at microbit.co.uk!

Do you have a BBC micro:bit? What do you think of it? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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BBC Micro:bit: What's it all about? | National Geographic Kids

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One million UK school kids have been handed a mini piece of technology, just ahead of Easter. Year 7 students across the UK have been given a BBC micro:bit - a small, wearable piece of tech that can be programmed to do a number of nifty things.

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10 Awesome Beginner Projects for the BBC Micro:bit Board

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The BBC Micro:bit is a great project board for anyone who wants to ease into programming. Here are several beginner projects you can build with a BBC Micro:bit.

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3 Awesome and easy things to do with a MICROBIT

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Program

You tell computers like the micro:bit what to do by giving them instructions. Sets of instructions for computers are called programs. Programs are written in code, a language that both you and the computer can understand.

You can program your micro:bit in the online MakeCode block or Python text editors. Our Let's code page helps you choose the one that's right for you.

You'll need either:

a computer with a web browser and internet access
or

a phone or tablet and our free micro:bit app for MakeCode coding on Android or iOS (iPhone and iPad) mobile devices

When you've written your code, you'll want to connect and transfer it onto the micro:bit.

Connect

Connect your micro:bit to your computer or mobile device.

If you're using a computer, you need a micro USB cable to connect to your micro:bit to your computer's USB socket

If you're using a phone or tablet, use Bluetooth to connect your micro:bit wirelessly

Transfer from a computer

Transferring your program to your micro:bit is called flashing because it copies your program into the micro:bit's flash memory.

Your micro:bit will pause and the yellow LED on the back will blink while your program is being transferred. Once it's copied across, your program starts running on your micro:bit.

There are two ways to transfer your program from a computer:

Drag and drop is like copying a downloaded file from your computer to a USB memory stick. It works on any computer.

Direct flashing sends your program from the code editor direct to your micro:bit. It works on any computer in two popular web browsers.

Drag and drop

When you plug the micro:bit into your computer's USB socket, it will appear on your computer like a USB memory stick called MICROBIT.

Download your program as a .hex file from the code editor to your computer, usually to your downloads folder. Then drag and drop the .hex file on to the MICROBIT drive.

After you transfer your .hex file, the MICROBIT drive will disconnect and reconnect as the micro:bit resets. The .hex file will not be listed on the MICROBIT drive after this. This is expected. Your micro:bit is not a flash storage device, but your computer shows it as one to make it easy to transfer .hex files.

The videos below show you how it works. Choose your computer type (Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux/Raspberry Pi) to see how it will work for you:

Choose your computer type:

Direct flashing

You can send programs direct from the online code editors to your micro:bit without the need to download and copy a .hex file. This is quick and easy.

To use direct flashing, you'll need to use a recent Chrome or Edge web browser that supports webUSB.

You may also need to update your micro:bit firmware if you got the device a long time ago. Find out more on our firmware page.

Note: direct flashing is quick and easy, and is great for debugging, but it does not save a copy of your program on your computer. If keeping a copy of your code on your computer or local network drives is important to you, for example for assessing students' work, you may want to use drag and drop instead, or remind students to download and save a .hex file when they have completed their project.

Transfer from mobile app

To get started on mobile, you need to download the free micro:bit app to your phone or tablet and follow the on-screen instructions. The apps use Bluetooth to transfer your code to your micro:bit, so you need to enable Bluetooth on your phone or tablet.

These videos help you understand how the mobile apps work with your micro:bit.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You tell computers like the micro:bit what to do by giving them instructions. Sets of instructions for computers are called programs. Programs are written in code, a language that both you and the computer can understand. You can program your micro:bit in the online MakeCode block or Python text editors.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Program

You tell computers like the micro:bit what to do by giving them instructions. Sets of instructions for computers are called programs. Programs are written in code, a language that both you and the computer can understand.

You can program your micro:bit in the online MakeCode block or Python text editors. Our Let's code page helps you choose the one that's right for you.

You'll need either:

a computer with a web browser and internet access
or

a phone or tablet and our free micro:bit app for MakeCode coding on Android or iOS (iPhone and iPad) mobile devices

When you've written your code, you'll want to connect and transfer it onto the micro:bit.

Connect

Connect your micro:bit to your computer or mobile device.

If you're using a computer, you need a micro USB cable to connect to your micro:bit to your computer's USB socket

If you're using a phone or tablet, use Bluetooth to connect your micro:bit wirelessly

Transfer from a computer

Transferring your program to your micro:bit is called flashing because it copies your program into the micro:bit's flash memory.

Your micro:bit will pause and the yellow LED on the back will blink while your program is being transferred. Once it's copied across, your program starts running on your micro:bit.

There are two ways to transfer your program from a computer:

Drag and drop is like copying a downloaded file from your computer to a USB memory stick. It works on any computer.

Direct flashing sends your program from the code editor direct to your micro:bit. It works on any computer in two popular web browsers.

Drag and drop

When you plug the micro:bit into your computer's USB socket, it will appear on your computer like a USB memory stick called MICROBIT.

Download your program as a .hex file from the code editor to your computer, usually to your downloads folder. Then drag and drop the .hex file on to the MICROBIT drive.

After you transfer your .hex file, the MICROBIT drive will disconnect and reconnect as the micro:bit resets. The .hex file will not be listed on the MICROBIT drive after this. This is expected. Your micro:bit is not a flash storage device, but your computer shows it as one to make it easy to transfer .hex files.

The videos below show you how it works. Choose your computer type (Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux/Raspberry Pi) to see how it will work for you:

Choose your computer type:

Direct flashing

You can send programs direct from the online code editors to your micro:bit without the need to download and copy a .hex file. This is quick and easy.

To use direct flashing, you'll need to use a recent Chrome or Edge web browser that supports webUSB.

You may also need to update your micro:bit firmware if you got the device a long time ago. Find out more on our firmware page.

Note: direct flashing is quick and easy, and is great for debugging, but it does not save a copy of your program on your computer. If keeping a copy of your code on your computer or local network drives is important to you, for example for assessing students' work, you may want to use drag and drop instead, or remind students to download and save a .hex file when they have completed their project.

Transfer from mobile app

To get started on mobile, you need to download the free micro:bit app to your phone or tablet and follow the on-screen instructions. The apps use Bluetooth to transfer your code to your micro:bit, so you need to enable Bluetooth on your phone or tablet.

These videos help you understand how the mobile apps work with your micro:bit.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You tell computers like the micro:bit what to do by giving them instructions. Sets of instructions for computers are called programs. Programs are written in code, a language that both you and the computer can understand. You can program your micro:bit in the online MakeCode block or Python text editors.

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micro:bit Tutorial Series Part 1: Getting Started

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