Foreword

Computational thinking is the thought processes involved in formulating a problem and expressing its solution(s) in a way that a computer - human or machine - can carry out effectively. In 2006, I began to advocate that everyone, regardless of profession, of career, or of age, can benefit from learning how to think computationally[1]. With the BBC micro:bit, the BBC and its partners, including Microsoft, catalyze our realization of this dream. Children can learn how to think computationally by first formulating a problem and conceptualizing a solution. Then, by expressing their solution using a code editor, such as Microsoft Touch Develop, and by compiling and running their program on the BBC micro:bit, they can see their code come alive!

I commend the BBC and the UK for their leadership in the Make It Digital initiative. Teaching children at an early age the fundamentals of computing helps provide them with the programming skills and the computational thinking skills they will need to function in the 21st century workforce. Programming the BBC micro:bit will teach children basic coding concepts, such as variables, types, procedures, iteration, and conditionals. Solving problems with the BBC micro:bit will expose children to computational thinking skills, such as abstraction, decomposition, pattern matching, algorithm design, and data representation. Students knowledgeable with these skills will be in high demand by all industrial, government, and academic sectors, not just information technology.

Most importantly, the BBC micro:bit will introduce children to the joy of computing. Making one’s personal device do whatever one wants is empowering. Programming the BBC micro:bit will tap into a child’s imagination and creativity. The device and programming environment provide a playful way to explore a multitude of computational behaviors.

I am thrilled to see this Quick Start Guide for Teachers, which is rich with examples that show how hands-on coding is easy and natural. Let’s have fun together!

Jeannette M. Wing

Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research

25 May 2015

[1] Jeannette M. Wing, “Computational Thinking”, Communications of the ACM 49 (3): 33, 2006.

Acknowledgements

Written by: Miles Berry and Ray Chambers

Additional material written by: Ross Lowe

Consultant: Roger Davies

Project managed and developed by: Becca Law

Cover and text design: me&him Design

Typeset in GT Walsheim Regular, Bold and Helvetica TT Regular, Oblique, Bold by me&him Design.

A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 978-1-471-86382-0

eISBN: 978-1-471-86384-4

Printed in the UK by

Ashford Colour Press Ltd

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the following people who contributed their ideas and support: Steve Connolly and Debbie Smith, Hodder Education; Ray Chambers, Uppingham Community College; Miles Berry, University of Roehampton; Roger Davies, Queen Elizabeth School; Clare Riley, Jeannette Wing, Thomas Ball, Peli de Halleux, Michal Moskal, Eric Anderson, Jonathan Protzenko, Steve Hodges, Deirdre Quarnstrom, Vardhani Mellacheruvu, Lori Ada Kilty, Darren Gehring, Genevieve Payzer, Gladys Hilerio, Kevin Chen, Michael Braun and Judith Bishop from Microsoft and the BBC team.

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