MicroBit-Quick-Start-Teacher-Guide

Back of boardBThe BBC micro:bit0 1 2 3V GNDAPREVIEWBLUETOOTH LOW ENERGYUSB PLUGANTENNAPrograms can be downloaded from Windows and Macs onto the micro:bitA messaging service, built for the via a USB data connection. The USB connects the micro:bit to a computer.Internet of Things, so devices can This means the micro:bit can send data to and receive data from the computer.talk to each other. The micro:bit will The USB will be used to ‘flash’ new Bprogrammes onto the micro:bit and tobe a peripheral device and it can talk allow the micro:bit to communicate with a computer or an Internet connection.to a central device like a smartphoneor tablet (or a laptop that has BLE).This means 0 the micro:bit 1 can 2send3V GNDSTATUS LEDsignals to and receive signals fromBUTTON RFlashes yellow when the systema central device. BLE will be usedSystem button, which has variouswants to tell the user somethingto ‘flash’ new programmes onto theuses. Has to be pressed to ‘flash’has happened.micro:bit and to allow the micro:bit tonew code onto the device over BLE.communicate with a computer or aninternet connection.APROCESSORAll the BBCmicro:bit'sprograms andany data arestored on thesmall silicon-chipmicro-controller.This tiny chipdesigned byARM has 128kBflash memoryand 16kB RAMmemory; a tinyfraction of thememory on asmart phone.BATTERYThis socketconnectsthe externalbattery pack(containing twoAAA batteries)to the board.The batterypack is attachedphysically to theboard with aVelcro patch.COMPASSA sensor to detect magnetic fields,like the Earth's, allowing the directionof the micro:bit to be determined andconverted to a digital form that canbe used in micro:bit programs.Output from the compass is degrees.ACCELEROMETERConverts analogue information about how quickly theBBC micro:bit’s speed changes to a digital form thatcan be used in micro:bit programs. Output from theaccelerometer is in milli-g. Allows the BBC micro:bit tobe used to control movement of on-screen characterssuch as Kodu (see page 11).A note about ARMARM designs the processors for most mobile phonesand embedded systems (such as smart thermostats,car engine controllers and the processors inside digitalcameras), and was founded by members of the originalBBC Micro team!BBC micro:bit is based on ARM’s mbed platformfor embedded systems, but programming theBBC micro:bit is very straightforward.A note about machine codeMachine code is the language the CPU (centralprocessing unit) of a computer understands, but it isn'tvery readable by humans as it is made up of numbers.Machine Code is known as a low level language. Highlevel languages, such as Blocks or TouchDevelop, arereadable/understandable by humans. A program writtenin a high level language, like TouchDevelop, has tobe compiled (translated) into machine code that theprocessor ‘understands’ (see page 10).05