Lucy Coy, co-founder of HeadteacherChat, tells us why primary school teachers should register for their school’s free BBC micro:bits and how to make the most of the resources by getting access to training and classroom activities.
What is HeadteacherChat?
HeadteacherChat was founded by myself and my husband, both experienced school leaders, as we wanted to reach out to leaders, not only to show our support, but to also share information, best practice, and to work collaboratively. Our aim was to help other professionals, as we knew that there was a lot we could learn from each other. We also wanted to celebrate the work that school leaders do, and so we created a platform that enables all of that to happen.
Why did you want to get involved with the BBC micro:bit campaign?
The BBC micro:bit – the next gen campaign which is in partnership with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation and Nominet, aligns with our commitment to providing information that has a positive impact on our schools. We are all for encouraging our future generation to learn digital literacy, experience creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and to inspire innovation, which is why we are encouraging as many schools to sign up as possible. The campaign aims to help pupils grasp the fundamentals of coding and computer science, helping to spark their curiosity and to prepare them for the digital challenges that lie ahead.
Why should primary schools register for free BBC micro:bits?
Every UK primary school has the opportunity to receive a FREE classroom set of 30 micro:bits if they register by 18th December 2023. These pocket-sized computers give pupils the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of coding and computer science, inspiring our future generation, and preparing pupils for the digital challenges that lie ahead.
There is also an array of free resources – with more CBBC branded ones to come soon – including online and in person training for teachers, that’s specially catered to each nation, plus classroom resources such as starter lessons, posters and an assembly video. The micro:bit programming platform MakeCode is really user-friendly, ensuring that both teachers and children can easily engage with it.
From May next year the BBC will be inviting schools to take part in the BBC micro:bit Playground Survey. Resources will be published in February, helping to get your children more engaged in computing and digital literacy. The micro:bit is a fantastic learning tool, not only in the classroom but also outside.
With everything you need to teach lessons, it’s a fun and engaging way to build children’s confidence, teamwork and collaboration, as well as digital literacy, creativity and innovative thinking.
The children will love the fact that the micro:bit will give them immediate results, allowing them to see the results of their code in real-time. It’s a hands-on, practical approach to learning and they will really enjoy the play element and the creative freedom that the micro:bit offers.
What are the learning opportunities for pupils?
- Coding skills
- Creative thinking and problem solving skills
- Digital literacy skills
- Future readiness skills and understanding
- Collaboration and team building skills
- Logical thinking and sequential reasoning skills
What support and resources are available for teachers?
Teachers can find all the information they need about how to claim their free BBC micro:bits along with details of training and free classroom resources on the BBC micro:bit website. This includes:
Equipment:
Training:
Classroom resources:
Questions for subject leaders and teachers wanting to embed the use of the BBC micro:bit in their school
- How does the use of micro:bits fit into your whole school development plan? Are you just going to use it to develop computing, or the wider curriculum as a whole?
- Which year groups will benefit, and when in the term will they use it?
- How and when will they be used in lessons and where does this fit into your current curriculum planning?
- What information do you need as a team in order to integrate micro:bits into your teaching successfully?
- Who needs the training?
- Where will you store the micro:bits, and do you need a timetable set up so that everyone gets an opportunity to use them?
- Who will look after them so that they are ready for teaching?
- Can you get parents, carers and the local community involved and if so, how?
- How will you monitor the impact on learning and when?
- Could the micro:bit be used for extra-curricular activities such as lunchtime club, and if so, why and how?
- Are there any children in your school who could benefit from using these as an intervention style activity where they could learn about working together, following instructions etc.
- Are there children in your school who are particularly enthusiastic about coding and have coding skills that are good enough to act as mentors to both other pupils and even teachers?
What are the next steps to incorporating the BBC micro:bit into a school’s plan?
- Order your primary school’s free set of 30 micro:bits by 18th December 2023
- Determine which subjects and age groups will benefit most from using the micro:bit
- Identify specific lessons or subjects where the micro:bit can enhance learning in your school
- Use/adapt the lesson plans provided to incorporate the micro:bit, specifying learning objectives, activities, and assessments
- Organise training sessions for your teaching staff. Invite experts or experienced educators to provide hands-on training on using the micro:bit
- Signpost your teachers to the training that’s available and the free classroom resources
The BBC micro:bit – the next gen campaign offers schools a fantastic opportunity to nurture children’s digital creativity and problem-solving skills. By registering your school, you open doors to a world of coding, creativity, and collaboration, all the while preparing the next generation for the digital challenges of the future.
Visit bbc.co.uk/microbit to claim your free set of 30 micro:bits before 18th December and embark on a journey of exploration and discovery.
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