Our courses for teachers and educators
The micro:bit Professional Development courses are designed to take the stress out of your computing responsibilities. They are aimed at teachers and educators supporting primary/elementary students.
What can you expect in the courses?
Using short and friendly videos, our courses cover the principles of computer science and practical tips for teaching computational thinking and programming concepts with the micro:bit.
Throughout our courses, we also feature projects that you can share with your students. We do this by providing two different kinds of resource:
- Teacher/educator focused videos - covering teaching tips for using specific projects with your group of students
- Student focused videos - providing step-by-step instructions to support students through the specific projects
To supplement our courses, we provide handy workbooks which summarise concepts covered and activities to do with your students. We also provide useful student planning sheets needed for the projects.
How do you access the courses?
Our courses are available for free on our learning platform. Following a short signup process, you can access as many of the courses as you like. The courses are designed to be accessed in sequence or for you to dip in and out of as suits your needs.
What courses are available?
We currently have 8 courses available in our Getting Started theme. We have summarised these courses below.
Meet the tiny computer
Introduces the BBC micro:bit and how it’s the ideal tool for teaching computational thinking and computer systems in a creative way. We explore the main inputs and outputs: buttons and the LED display.
Introducing loops
Uses the micro:bit to show how loops repeat sets of instructions to make your code do more. We explain the difference between infinite and numbered loops with practical examples.
Animation artist
Explores some core computing concepts through creating animations on the micro:bit’s LED display including algorithms, pattern recognition and abstraction.
Controlling physical systems with sensors
Shows how to use the micro:bit’s built-in accelerometer, light and magnetism sensors to build simple working models of control systems like nightlights and alarms. We also show how to extend the micro:bit’s inputs by making your own switches with simple materials like kitchen foil and cardboard.
Gesture and movement
Explores how to use the micro:bit’s accelerometer sensor in code. Using built-in gesture recognition, you’ll make projects that respond when you shake the micro:bit or rotate it in different directions like a phone or tablet screen.
Networks with radio communication
Introduces computer networks and security using the micro:bit’s simple radio feature. We explore how messages are sent and addressed across networks and how you can protect information you send.
Sensing and making sound
Explores music and creative sound-making with the micro:bit. We’ll also show how you can create code that uses the micro:bit V2’s built-in microphone to respond to and measure sound.
Practical tips for teachers using the BBC micro:bit
Introduces the basics of what you need to get started teaching with the micro:bit, some practical suggestions and top tips for getting the most from your lesson time.
