The go-to guide to getting started with the BBC micro:bit and exploring all of its amazing capabilities. The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized electronic development platform built with education in mind. It was developed by the BBC in partnership with major tech companies, communities, and educational organizations to provide kids with a fun, easy, inexpensive way to develop their digital skills. With it, kids (and grownups) can learn basic programming and coding while having fun making virtual pets, developing games, and a whole lot more. Written by internationally bestselling tech author Gareth Halfacree and endorsed by the Micro:bit Foundation, The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide contains what you need to know to get up and running fast with the BBC micro:bit. Learn everything from taking your first steps with the BBC micro:bit to writing your own programs. You'll also learn how to expand its capabilities with add-ons through easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. Set up your BBC micro:bit and develop your digital skills Write code in JavaScript Blocks, JavaScript, and Python Discover the BBC micro:bit’s built-in sensors Connect the BBC micro:bit to a Raspberry Pi to extend its capabilities Build your own circuits and create hardware The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide is your go-to source for learning all the secrets of the BBC micro:bit. Whether you're just beginning or have some experience, this book allows you to dive right in and experience everything the BBC micro:bit has to offer.

Quickly write innovative programs for your micro:bit—no experience necessary!This easy-to-follow guide shows, step-by-step, how to quickly get started with programming and creating fun applications on your micro:bit.. Written in the straightforward style that Dr. Simon Monk is famous for, Programming the BBC micro:bit: Getting Started with MicroPython begins with basic concepts and gradually progresses to more advanced techniques. You will discover how to use the micro:bit's built-in hardware, use the LED display, accept input from sensors, attach external electronics, and handle wireless communication.•Connect your micro:bit to a computer and start programming!•Learn how to use the two most popular MicroPython editors •Work with built-in functions and methods—and see how to write your own•Display text, images, and animations on the micro:bit’s LED matrix•Process data from the accelerometer, compass, and touch sensor•Control external hardware by attaching it to the edge connector•Send and receive messages via the built-in radio module•Graphically build programs with the JavaScript Blocks Editor

Learn essential concepts and techniques to build simple-to-advanced projects and overcome common programming challenges in micro:bit development. Beginning BBC micro:bit will take you through the complete features and capabilities of the micro:bit controller, enabling you to program and build your own projects. The uses are endless for the micro:bit and this books will help get you started on building your next project with this popular and easy-to-use microcontroller. You'll use online Python Editor and Mu Editor to build your own applications. Reviewed by the micro:bit developer team, this comprehensive guide also provides clean code examples to help you learn the key concepts behind the micro:bit API. What You’ll Learn Work with the various kits and accessories Master the micro:bit development platform with easy to follow examples and clean code Build your own micro:bit applications using an online Python editor and Mu editor Use the on-board LED matrix, built-in buttons, I/O pins, accelerometer, and compass Learn how to connect and communicate with devices through I2C, SPI, and UART Build applications with music and speech libraries Use Local Persistent File System to store and manipulate files Build applications based on wired and radio networks Use micro:bit and micro:bit Blue apps Who This Book Is For Beginners, those already experienced with electronics, and hobbyists at all levels looking to get started with a new microcontroller.

Build your own secret laboratory with 30 coding and electronic projects! The BBC micro:bit is a tiny, cheap, yet surprisingly powerful computer that you can use to build cool things and experiment with code. The 30 simple projects and experiments in this book will show you how to use the micro:bit to build a secret science lab complete with robots, door alarms, lie detectors, and more--as you learn basic coding and electronics skills. Here are just some of the projects you'll build: A "light guitar" you can play just by moving your fingers A working lie detector A self-watering plant care system A two-wheeled robot A talking robotic head with moving eyes A door alarm made with magnets Learn to code like a Mad Scientist!

A new and expanded edition of one of the decade's most influential education books. In this practical guide, Sylvia Martinez and Gary Stager provide K-12 educators with the how, why, and cool stuff that supports making in the classroom, library, makerspace, or anywhere learners learn.

Learn to use technology to undertake data science and to leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) in your experimentation. Designed to take you on a fascinating journey, this book introduces the core concepts of modern data science. You'll start with simple applications that you can undertake on a BBC micro:bit and move to more complex experiments with additional hardware. The skills and narrative are as generic as possible and can be implemented with a range of hardware options. One of the most exciting and fastest growing topics in education is data science. Understanding how data works, and how to work with data, is a key life skill in the 21st century. In a world driven by information it is essential that students are equipped with the tools they need to make sense of it all. For instance, consider how data science was the key factor that identified the dangers of climate change -- and continues to help us identify and react to the threats it presents. This book explores the power of data and how you can apply it using hardware you have at hand. You'll learn the core concepts of data science, how to apply them in the real world and how to utilize the vast potential of IoT. By the end, you'll be able to execute sophisticated and meaningful data science experiments - why not become a citizen scientist and make a real contribution to the fight against climate change. There is something of a digital revolution going these days, especially in the classroom. With increasing access to microprocessors, classrooms are are incorporating them more and more into lessons. Close to 5 million BBC micro:bits will be in the hands of young learners by the end of the year and millions of other devices are also being used by educators to teach a range of topics and subjects. This presents an opportunity: microprocessors such as micro:bit provide the perfect tool to use to build 21st century data science skills. Beginning Data Science and IoT on the BBC micro:bit provides you with a solid foundation in applied data science. What You'll Learn · Use sensors with a microprocessor to gather or "create" data · Extract, tabulate, and utilize data it from the microprocessor · Connect a microprocessor to an IoT platform to share and then use the data we collect · Analyze and convert data into information Who This Book Is For Educators, citizen scientists, and tinkerers interested in an introduction to the concepts of IoT and data on a broad scale.

It’s an exciting time to get involved with MicroPython, the re-implementation of Python 3 for microcontrollers and embedded systems. This practical guide delivers the knowledge you need to roll up your sleeves and create exceptional embedded projects with this lean and efficient programming language. If you’re familiar with Python as a programmer, educator, or maker, you’re ready to learn—and have fun along the way. Author Nicholas Tollervey takes you on a journey from first steps to advanced projects. You’ll explore the types of devices that run MicroPython, and examine how the language uses and interacts with hardware to process input, connect to the outside world, communicate wirelessly, make sounds and music, and drive robotics projects. Work with MicroPython on four typical devices: PyBoard, the micro:bit, Adafruit’s Circuit Playground Express, and ESP8266/ESP32 boards Explore a framework that helps you generate, evaluate, and evolve embedded projects that solve real problems Dive into practical MicroPython examples: visual feedback, input and sensing, GPIO, networking, sound and music, and robotics Learn how idiomatic MicroPython helps you express a lot with the minimum of resources Take the next step by getting involved with the Python community

"Networking with the micro:bit" teaches the basics of computer networking, using the BBC micro:bit and its radio communication module through a series of fun programming exercises & games.This book requires no knowledge of computer networks, or radio communication, but does assume that you have written programs for the micro:bit, and are familiar with variables, if-then-else statements, and loops.

The BBC micro: bit is capable of taking on a variety of roles including that of a powerful IoT device. In order to gain full access to its features and to external devices, however, you need to use C which delivers the speed crucial to programs that communicate with the outside world. Written for the electronics enthusiast, micro: bit IoT In C starts with a first "Hello Blinky" C program with the mbed online compiler, we move to the desktop to using an offline approach using the yotta development environment plus NetBeans to make things even easier. Now we are ready to discover how to control the micro: bit's I/O lines, exploring the basis of using the GPIO. For speed, however, we need to work directly with the raw hardware and also master memory mapping, pulse width modulation and other more sophisticated bus types. From here we can start connecting sensors using first the I2C bus, then by implementing a custom protocol for a one-wire bus, and eventually adding eight channels of 12-bit AtoD with the SPI bus, which involves overcoming some subtle difficulties. We then look at serial connections, one of the oldest ways of connecting devices but still very useful. The micro: bit lacks WiFi connectivity but using a low-cost device we enable a connection to the Internet via its serial port which allows it to become a server. To conclude we look at the micro: bit's LED display. This may only be 5x5, but it is very versatile, especially when you use pulse width modulation to vary the brightness level, something we demonstrate in a classic game, written of course in C.