In the micro:bit LIVE online conference dozens of educators, researchers and technical developers from around the world spoke about their work with the BBC micro:bit.
Mitch Resnick and Shawna Young - Coding, creativity and equity with Scratch and micro:bit
The event, held on 3rd and 4th December 2021, began with a presentation by Mitch Resnick and Shawna Young of the Scratch Foundation. Mitch Resnick is LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab. His research group developed the programming language Scratch, that makes it easier for children to learn coding by creating animations and video games.
Mitch and Scratch Foundation Executive Director Shawna talked about the work that they have been doing in the past year to support educators in opening up programming opportunities to children around the world.
Jonny Austin - Tech team update
micro:bit LIVE also featured an update from the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s Chief Technology and Product Officer, Jonny Austin. Check out Jonny’s presentation to learn about why we aim to make technology deliberately distinguishable from magic!
You can also find out about projects we have been working on such as data logging, the new micro:bit Python editor and the latest micro:bit hardware.
Magda Wood - Celebrating students and teachers taking ownership of technology
In addition, watch the micro:bit Chief of Learning, Magda Wood, whose talk celebrates students and teachers taking ownership of technology and making things that matter to them. Magda outlined three innovative children’s projects, which include:
- a timer to encourage people to wash their hands for enough time to prevent spreading infection - a device developed in response to the pandemic
- a “smart village” to warn of potential natural disasters such as flooding and tsunamis
- a prototype device to produce clean drinking water
The Micro:bit Educational Foundation YouTube channel has dozens of other informative talks from micro:bit LIVE.
Program committee
Dr. Tzeng Jeng Nan, Soobi Project, National Cheng Chi University
Elaine Atherton, Scratch
Elisa Cristi, Administración Nacional de Educación Pública (ANEP-DGEIP)
Jacqueline Russell, MakeCode
Jacy Edelman, Scratch
João Adriano Freitas, Brazilian Network of Creative Learning
Jon Haavie, Teknisk Museum Norway
Konstantinos Andronikidisis, European Schoolnet
Martha Jez, Fair Chance Learning
Michelle Borda, Michifuzz
Mohd Azrul Che Mustapha, Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Merbok, Malaysia
Rodrigo Fabrega Lacoa, Fundacion Cruzando
Sara Hata, Japan Community Lead, Micro:bit Eduactional Foundation
Tanya Riach, New South Wales Department of Education
Chair: Rachel Lancaster, Micro:bit Educational Foundation
The Micro:bit Educational Foundation would like to give a special thank you to Fair Chance Learning for moderating micro:bit LIVE 2021 virtual.
