Micro:bit Project Books

The Micro:bit Book is a tool co-created by Uruguayan teachers and Ceibal on the basis of the current curricular contents in Uruguay. It is based on active methodologies and pedagogies, among other fundamental elements from the education project, and it includes practices of incorporation and use of innovative technologies. It resulted from the teaching community's demand for support and orientation shortly after Ceibal included the BBC micro:bit project within their offered programs. The main goal of the publication is to offer a tool for teachers created by teachers, which can address the specific knowledge needs that arise from working with micro:bit in the classroom. This particular characteristic adds on another educational resource that strengthens the bond between technology and classroom practices. One of the book’s innovations is that it aims at collaborative work with technologies in the classroom, which means a significant impact on the development of learning and the enhancement of skills. It contains methodologies based on the teaching-learning process in different integrated activities, and it is grounded in the possibilities offered by the micro:bit board. Those taking the first steps in using the board can start with the low complexity activities, and then can experiment at more complex levels. This material is one more resource to motivate, inspire, and facilitate the development of transversal skills that is meant to be encouraged from the new paradigms of education.

Even though the micro:bit project’s target audience in Uruguay includes students and teachers between 5th and 9th grade of the Integrated Basic Education (9 to 15 years old approx.), the book offers activities with various degrees of complexity, inviting readers to delve into the realm of micro:bit gradually and with no age restrictions. They can start with the MakeCode simulator if they still haven't accessed the physical board.

The book proposes different contents and skills to work on. In each activity there is a detail of the areas of knowledge, which are current curricular spaces, and the contents that can be worked in the activity. There is also information on the concepts to be implemented regarding micro:bit technology. The activities and projects are specifically aimed at implementing knowledge and contents from different areas so as to create interdisciplinary learning experiences.

In order to learn more about the Ceibal micro:bit initiative, teachers can access YouTube Ceibal STEAM, where there are activities, games, projects, and events that spread micro:bit experiences with different levels of complexity. The channel offers playlists with tutorials that go from the “first steps” with micro:bit to more complex projects that have connections with external components or work with Machine Learning and micro:bit.