Lecture Assignments
Assignment 1
During Session 2, we had to draw a quick sketch of a Micro:Bit (see Figure 1). We did not have much time, so I only drew the front. We also needed to highlight five aspects in our drawing of the bit that contribute to tinkerability. Even from the front view, there are several features that make the Micro:Bit easy to tinker with.
First, the LED matrix gives immediate visual feedback, so you can quickly see what your code is doing.
Second, the A and B buttons make it simple to test interactions right away without needing extra parts.
Third, the edge connector/pins at the bottom make it easy to connect other components (for example, with crocodile clips), which supports trying out lots of different ideas.
Fourth, the Micro:Bit is small and feels robust, which makes it more approachable to handle and experiment with.
Finally, the built-in sensors (for example, sound input through the microphone) allow the Micro:Bit to react to what is happening around it, which encourages quick testing and changes while you work.
During the session, it was said that we needed to reference the book more, so all of the aspects described above match the ideas from Invent to Learn, where tinkering is described as a hands-on, iterative process that is supported by quick feedback, experimentation, and learning by doing.
Figure 1. The front sketch of the Micro:Bit.