
Course Contents:
BBC micro:bit Overview:
What is the micro:bit? This section covers general information about the background of the microbit. How it came to be, what it is intended to address, and also how Kitronik have been involved in the process. You can learn more about the history of the micro:bit here.- What is the BBC micro:bit.
- What is Kitronik's role in the project.
- The story so far.
- Announcing micro:bit V2.
microbit Coding Editors:
One of the key strengths of the micro:bit is the variety of ways in which you can write code for it. No workarounds required. This opens up learning to a wide range of ages and also ability levels. These are links to the most popular editors for micro:bit.- Microsoft MakeCode Editor.
- MicroPython Editor.
- Mu Editor.
- EduBlocks Editor.
- Legacy Editors, for information only.
- Legacy Blocks Editor (Now switched off).
- The Legacy Touch Develop Editor (Now switched off).
- Legacy Code Kingdoms Editor (Now switched off).
Getting Started With The BBC microbit:
If you are new to the micro:bit and also coding, the hardest part of learning is often knowing where to start. Kitronik has committed to producing information to help the new user go from novice to ninja in easy to manage steps. Learn the basics of some of the available coding editors and also a few simple coding examples to get you started. If Scratch is your editor of choice, we also have a guide for that too!- Learn To Use The micro:bit... Without A micro:bit.
- How To Update HEX Files To micro:bit V2 Universal HEX.
- The Differences Between micro:bit V1 And microbit V2.
- The Five Minute microbit Guide.
- The microbit User Guide For Absolute Beginners.
- The Parent's Complete Guide To The BBC micro:bit.
- Powering your BBC microbit.
- Transferring a program to the BBC micro:bit.
- How to get Started with MakeCode Editor.
- Getting Started with EduBlocks.
- Getting Started With Scratch For microbit.
- Use The BBC micro:bit As An Instrument Tuner.
- Using MicroPython With Kitronik BBC micro:bit Products.
- Add Additional Light Sensing To The BBC micro:bit.
- Legacy guides for information only (Editors now turned off):
The new microbit V2:
The new micro:bit V2 is now available and Kitronik is on the case with resource creation. If you have experience of the original microbit then V2 will seem very familiar. V2 has all of the original boards features and brings a number of new features for the user to get to grips with. As well as new resources covering these newer features, we will also be producing updated versions of selected existing resources, to help the new user get up to speed straight away.
- How To Update HEX Files To micro:bit V2 Universal HEX.
- The Differences Between micro:bit V1 And microbit V2.
- Learn To Use The micro:bit... Without A micro:bit.
Mobile Device Apps:
We developed a simple Android App that allows you to utilise control over Bluetooth with the microbit. We also chose to release it as a free download to open it up for everyone. Some of the more advanced tutorials on this page also feature Bluetooth, so it made sense for us to have our own App.MicroPython Example Code For Kitronik Products:
If you've already got the upper hand with blocks and Javascript, then you'll need somewhere to go next. The next logical step is MicroPython. Many of our more recent microbit accessory launches have included coding examples in blocks and also in MicroPython.- 16 Servo Control Board.
- STOP:bit For BBC micro:bit.
- All-In One Robotics Board.
- :GAME ZIP 64.
- :KLEF Piano For BBC micro:bit.
- Links to the above 5 resources with background information.
Teachers Lesson Plans:
These resources have been specifically designed to help teachers deliver lessons with as little work as possible. Devising quality resources for Teachers has always been a key part of the Kitronik product development cycle. Because the curriculum can be a complicated animal, it has also been our policy to regularly seek advice and direct input from award-winning Teachers.- :GAME ZIP 64 Lesson Plans By Lorraine Underwood & Kitronik.
- :MOVE mini Lesson Plans By Lorraine Underwood & Kitronik.
- Free Lesson Plans For ZIP Halo By Lorraine Underwood & Kitronik.
- Teachers Lesson Plans For STOP:bit For microbit.
- Free Teachers Lesson Plan For LAMP:bit For microbit.
- Teachers Lesson Plans For ACCESS:bit For microbit.
Free E-Textiles Sample Packs:
E-Textiles Tutorials:
Can the micro:bit be used in E-Textiles? Definitely! The micro:bits small physical footprint and its impressive feature set lends itself perfectly to wearable electronics. Learn how to add the micro:bit to garments and also to wearable accessories.- BBC micro:bit emoji bag.
- Rocket themed countdown pencil case.
- Add Additional Light Sensing To The BBC micro:bit.
- microbit Powered Halo-ween Ironman Arc Reactor.
- BBC micro:bit Powered Halo-ween Fancy Dress.
- How to make a sewable Halloween LED badge.
Using The Expansion Connector With Electronics:
Can the micro:bit be directly connected to electronics and other devices? The microbits edge connector opens it up to being connected to other devices, additional electronics, and also the wider world. This collection of tutorials will show you how you can make use of the edge connector to do some pretty amazing things with very little effort. You can utilise additional sensors, hack games for microbit control, control servos, and much more.-
Using the BBC micro:bit edge connector.
- Don't steal my BBC micro:bit alarm!
- Cool colours temperature sensor.
- Light level detector.
- BBC micro:bit controlled crane.
- microbit Lap Counter For Scalextric Like Track.
- Controlling a servo with the microbit.
- Control A 360 Degree Servo With A BBC micro:bit.
- Distance Sensing With A microbit And HC-SR04 Module.
Inventors Kit Experiments:
Can the micro:bit be used to learn about physical computing? The inventors kit for micro:bit is probably the most popular micro:bit learning aid in the world. The interesting and informative experiments, the clear and concise instructions all combine to take the user from beginner to intermediate in a very short space of time. But, we didn't stop there! These online resources provide additional information, video walkthroughs, and also MicroPython code examples for each. Several of the experiments have been put online in their entirety, AND, we also devised two more bonus experiments that are only available online.- Say Hello to the BBC micro:bit. - Experiment 1
- Pre V1.7 Using an LDR and analog inputs. - Experiment 2
- Post V1.7 Using a Light Sensor & analog inputs. - Experiment 2
- Dimming an LED using a potentiometer. - Experiment 3
- Using a transistor to drive a motor. - Experiment 4
- Use the accelerometer to control motor speed. - Experiment 5
- Setting the tone with a piezo buzzer. - Experiment 6
- Wind Power. - Experiment 7
- Making a game using the compass. - Experiment 8
- Capacitor charge circuit. - Experiment 9
- Using an RGB LED. - Experiment 10
- Making a pedestrian crossing. - Experiment 11
- Making a random dice. - Experiment 12
ZIP LED Add-On Pack For The Inventors Kit:
The ZIP LED add-on pack for the Kitronik Inventors Kit for the BBC microbit provides the perfect way to learn about the wonderful world of ZIP LEDs. These LEDs are simple to control and can be used to produce a whole range of fantastic colours. We've put up one of the experiments from the pack in its entirety, which includes a full parts list, and we've also devised a bonus experiment that is only available online!- Experiment 10 - Using A Potentiometer To Control an LED.
- Bonus Experiment - Fan Controlled ZIP LED Ring.
Noise Pack for Kitronik Inventor's Kit for the BBC micro:bit:
The Noise pack add-on for the Inventors kite teaches you how to bend sound to your will in your projects. As a bonus, we've also created an online-only experiment that combines coding, electronics and a bit of mechanical engineering.Robots/Buggies:
Can you build robots with the microbit, yes you can! We love robots, so much so that we've developed a number of micro:bit accessories specifically designed to allow you to robot up the place. Whenever we design something, we always look to open it up to as many people as possible by writing clear instructions and also as many fun additional activities as we can come up with. Whatever you intend to build, the chances are that we have a tutorial that will help you get there.- BBC micro:bit Line Following Buggy.
- A micro:bit controlled Zumo buggy.
- Build A Klawsome microbit Controlled Tank.
- Using PWM with the Kitronik Motor Driver Board.
- Controlling :MOVE mini With The microbit Radio.
- Drawing With The :MOVE mini For The microbit.
- :MOVE mini Servo Powered Halloween Add-ons.
- 3D Printing :MOVE mini Halloween Ghost & Pumpkin Shells.
- Controlling 3 Servos With The Servo:Lite board.
- Calibrating 360 Degree Servos For :MOVE mini.
- Guide For Kitronik Custom MakeCode Editor Servo Blocks.
- Getting Started With The Servo:Lite board.
- Using Kitronik ZIP LEDs With The BBC microbit.
- Guide For Coding Automatic Headlights For :MOVE mini.
- Coding Indicators For :MOVE mini.
- Pairing A microbit That's Attached To :MOVE mini.
- Distance Sensing With A microbit And HC-SR04 Module.
- How To Add A Servo To The Simple Robotics Kit.
- Adding ZIP Hex LEDs To The Simple Robotics Buggy Kit.
Everything Is Better With Bluetooth:
The road to the Internet of Things (IoT) starts here! Computers are great, but it wasn't until we joined them all together that their power was fully realised! The micro:bit can be connected to other things too. It has Bluetooth, a radio module and also serial connectivity built-in. As great as connecting electronics directly to it is, wireless information transfers are where it's at! Learn about how you can utilise the power of Bluetooth in your projects, AND, we also have a free app for that!- Kitronik Move App For Mobile Devices.
- Adding Bluetooth Remote Control To :MOVE mini.
- Robot Buggy Part 7 Remote Control Via Bluetooth.
- Take The BBC micro:bit To The Next Level With Bluetooth Low Energy.
- Pairing A microbit That's Attached To :MOVE mini.
Light It Up:
Can you use the microbit to control individual lights and make them do exactly what you want? Yes, you can and you should! The chances are that pretty much all of the consumer electronics you have at home have some sort of visual feedback built into them. Often, it is in the form of LEDs. It might just be a power light, or it might be a colour coded VU meter. However many there are, they might also be controlled via code. Learn how to use the micro:bit to great visual effect with code and individually programmable LEDs.- Get Started With Zip Halo For The BBC microbit.
- Using Kitronik ZIP LEDs With The BBC microbit.
- Automatic Headlights For :MOVE mini.
- Guide For Coding Indicators On The :MOVE mini.
- microbit Powered Halo-ween Ironman Arc Reactor.
- Adding Extra ZIP LEDs To The Kitronik Halo.
- BBC micro:bit Powered Halo-ween Fancy Dress.
- Electro-Fashion LED Curtains by Maria Hadjiantoniou.
- Laser Cut Glittered Acrylic ZIP Tile Name Badge.
- Fairground Inspired Spinning Ring by Elsa Novak.
- Adding ZIP Hex LEDs To The Simple Robotics Buggy Kit.
:GAME ZIP 64 Teaching Resources:
Can you play games on the microbit? Yes, you can, even without any additional controls. However, even younger hands will fumble the buttons from time to time. Also, having more than the standard two buttons available is also a must if you want to write something a little more engaging and fun! We have an accessory for that, two actually. The :GAME ZIP also comes with a built-in LED screen and the :GAME Controller utilises the micro:bit LEDs. We not only teamed up with an actual teacher to bring you a free learning resource, but we also brought a couple of classic games to the platform for you to learn from and have fun with!- Free :GAME ZIP 64 Lesson Plans By Lorraine Underwood & Kitronik.
- Pong Game Download.
- Snake Game Download.
:MOVE mini Teaching Resources:
We have a wealth of free learning resources for our popular little robot buggy, but this one was written by a teacher for teachers. This classroom-ready resource has been designed to help you teach robotics at KS3/4.ZIP Halo for microbit Teaching Resources:
The ZIP Halo is a great accessory for learning about how to incorporate programmable lighting in a variety of situations. This teacher-designed set of resources will allow you to bring this to the classroom, easily and without the time and stress required to do this from the ground up.Kitronik :CITY Teaching Resources:
Traffic light projects have been a staple in schools and colleges across the land for decades. They are used to teach everything from traffic management to machine code programming and they've suddenly got a lot more interesting. We've developed some accessories to make the task of making these projects more enjoyable and to leave you with a better-looking result at the end. We also developed teaching plans for each, to help you get the most out of them in the classroom.- Teachers Lesson Plans For STOP:bit For microbit.
- Lesson Plan For LAMP:bit For microbit.
- Teachers Lesson Plans For ACCESS:bit For microbit.
Writing microbit Games:
Can you write games on the micro:bit? Check! Can you write games that make use of user input to control an on-screen character? Check! The good news just keeps on coming, accessories are optional! Learn how to move a player-controlled character around the screen with just the micro:bit. We also cover how you can do the same with a joystick and with a handheld game controller.Custom Code:
Kitronik is committed to education. We ensure that whenever we design a micro:bit accessory that we also produce the resources to back it up. We also devise functionality to add to the MakeCode editor that makes the task of learning to write code for our accessories as simple as possible. That's not to say that you HAVE to use these blocks, you are free to take the scenic route if you want more of a challenge. The blocks are there to help younger children, those with less experience and also those that want to get from A to B as quickly as possible.Hacking Toys For microbit control:
Can you use a micro:bit to control a commercial toy? Yes, you can, and we can prove it! The micro:bit can be used as a direct replacement for the toy's controls or it can also be used to add extra functionality. One is simple and the other can be more tricky but they both help you to get more mileage out of children's toys. We like to think of this as upcycling.Link Standard:
Standards make the world go around, and wheels too. We've ensured that all of our recent accessories comply to certain standards, standards that ensure that things work in the way you expect them to and that there is compatibility between complimentary boards.3D Printing:
3D printing is already a household term, it's also fast becoming a household activity. As printers become more affordable and more reliable, more and more people are experimenting with 3D design and manufacture. So, once you've got a benchy or two and a vase under your belt, what next? Do 3D printing and micro:bit go together? Check out the resources below and chalk this one up as another yes!- 3D Printable case.
- CAD Resources.
- 3D Print Robot Wars Buggy, instructions and design file downloads.
- FREE :GAME ZIP 64 Cases - 3D Printed/Laser Cut.
Laser Cutting:
Our guides aren't all about the coding, sometimes you also need a functional or an aesthetically pleasing case or cover. Any excuse to jump on the laser cutter, and we'll take it. These resources provide cases and inspiration for possible projects. They also highlight that design, electronics, code and mechanical engineering nearly always go hand in hand!- Project Ideas for the MI:power Board.
- FREE :GAME ZIP 64 Cases - 3D Printed/Laser Cut.
- :KLEF Piano for micro:bit case resources.
- Make A Sturdy Laser Cut Stand For STOP:bit Or LAMP:bit.
Kitronik :City From Bett 2019:
Civil Engineering and the micro:bit? Why not! For BETT 2019 we designed a micro:bit city, complete with tourist attractions, sporting venues and much more. It got a lot of attention and also enquires as to how it was done. As we love making resources, it didn't take any arm twisting to get us to also make a series of resources for the :CITY. If you would like to make your own city, or at least a part of one, this collection of resources will show you how to do it. They cover; design, coding, and also construction. If you make something, please tell us all about it on social media as it gives us a thrill to see other peoples creations in action.- How we made Kitronik :CITY.
- :MOVE Mini Football Stadium.
- Klimate, microbit and ZIP Halo Big Ben.
- microbit Servo Driver Tower Bridge.
- Robotics Board London Eye & Turbine.
Seasonal microbit Projects:
Is the micro:bit fun? Yes it is, it's not all learn, learn, learn, sometimes it's just for fun or for effect. That's not to say that you won't also learn along the way, because you will, but you might not notice because of all the fun. Sneaky... The emphasis on these resources is on the end result being a fun experience with a fun and useful outcome. You can get dressed up, make seasonal ornaments, and also make some animated models.- microbit Powered Halo-ween Ironman Arc Reactor. - Fancy Dress
- BBC micro:bit Powered Halo-ween Fancy Dress. - Fancy Dress
- :MOVE mini Servo Powered Halloween Add-ons. - Halloween
- How to make a sewable Halloween LED badge. - Halloween
- :MOVE mini Halloween Ghost & Pumpkin Shells. - Halloween
- Halloween 3D Printing & Laser Cutting Projects. - Halloween
- microbit powered 3D printed Spider! - Halloween
- Halloween Music on MI:Sound Speaker Board for microbit. - Halloween
- Laser Cut Glittered Acrylic ZIP Tile Halloween Pumpkin. - Halloween
- Kitronik Christmas Fair - Stepper Ferris Wheel. - Christmas
- The Kitronik Christmas Fair - ZIP LED Helter Skelter. - Christmas
- Kitronik Christmas Fair - Bandstand And Stalls. - Christmas
- Christmas 2016 Project Ideas. - Christmas
- ZIP Halo Christmas Tree. - Christmas
- microbit ZIP Halo Christmas Baubles. - Christmas
- MI:power microbit Christmas Baubles. - Christmas
- Development Of The Christmas Bells. - Christmas
- Servo & microbit Controlled Christmas Bells. - Christmas
- Day 3 - BBC microbit ZIP Halo Compass. - Christmas
- :MOVE mini Santa Sleigh. - Christmas
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10 comments
Mark Donnison
Hi Dave, it's not something we've looked into but if you use the following search term in google it should be the first result in the list, once there you can find information on iC2 at the bottom of the menu on the left. The search term: microbit micropython read the docs io ic2. I hope this helps.
Dave Simpson
An example of how to write and read from the i2C would be a great help. At the moment I can't seem to get the correct parameters/types set in micropython for microbit.i2c.read and write. In the project i am experimenting with i am using a MCP23017 with a single LED attached to GPB1. the circuit works when connected to an Arduino. bus address is 0×27
Mark Donnison
Hi Nigel, The 25 LED's are split into 8 columns (1-9), there are 4 rows but the rows aren't broken out (to avoid the risk of shorts). Unfortunately, that means that you can't drive the LED matrix from the edge connector.
Nigel Kendrick
Can you elaborate on how the LEDs are connected to the microcontroller/edge connector as there's a 5×5 array of LEDs, but the relevant pins of the edge connector are designated Col1-3 and Col7-9. Thanks Nigel Kendrick (STEM Ambassador)
Rob Haywood
Hi Paul, The BBC micro:bit should appear in My Computer without the need for any driver. Kind regards Rob
paul
How/where do I find the driver for the micro:bit so that I can drag and drop the coding onto them ? many thanks Paul
Andrew White
Hi Adam, You can register your school to receive BBC micro:bits for your Year 7 year group here: https://bbcmicrobitschoolregistrationform.co.uk/english.html. Hope this helps, Many thanks, Andrew
Adam
how do i make sure that my year 7s get this then?
Rob Haywood
Hi Ray, There is a legacy group which is working on the finer detail of the legacy which includes distribution. Distribution will begin sometime after the last of the year 7 students have received theirs. We are hopeful at this stage that we will be a distributor. Rob
Ray
Hi Do you sell the BBC micro bit computer? Regards Ray