Students discuss what they do and don’t know about programmable systems This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Some people enjoy taking part in quizzes in their spare time. Keeping an accurate score of points gained by each team, or player, is important when deciding who the overall winner is. Programmable counter systems can be used to do this quickly and easily, and reduce the likelihood of human error. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a programmable counter that can be used to keep score during a quiz. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will self-assess and plan how to extend their current knowledge of programmable systems. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Use the BBC micro:bit programmable system to create a working prototype of a score counter This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Some people enjoy taking part in quizzes in their spare time. Keeping an accurate score of points gained by each team, or player, is important when deciding who the overall winner is. Programmable counter systems can be used to do this quickly and easily, and reduce the likelihood of human error. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a programmable counter that can be used to keep score during a quiz. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will integrate a BBC micro:bit based programmable system into a working product prototype. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Create a set of clear instructions to navigate a maze path This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Programmable robotic systems are becoming an important part of industrial developments in Design and Technology. Robots are now being developed that can sense changes in their surroundings and respond accordingly. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a robotic buggy that can successfully navigate a maze or path. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will create a set of clear instructions to help their partner navigate a maze path. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Work as a team to program the robot buggy so that it can navigate a maze path This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Programmable robotic systems are becoming an important part of industrial developments in Design and Technology. Robots are now being developed that can sense changes in their surroundings and respond accordingly. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a robotic buggy that can successfully navigate a maze or path. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will work as a team to program the robot buggy so that it can navigate a maze path. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Understand the relationship between energy transferred, power and time This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Reducing energy usage in the home saves money, increases energy security and reduces the need to burn unsustainable fossil fuels. The first step in doing this is monitoring how much energy is used each day. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a home energy usage monitoring system that will inform people how long they leave their lights and/or heating on during the day. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will calculate the amount of electrical energy used by one or more of their appliances in the home. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the free activity sheet! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Create five rules for learning about programmable systems This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Hundreds of people are killed in accidents on roads in the United Kingdom every year. When schools are situated close to roads there is particular danger to children crossing them. A good, well programmed pedestrian control system can minimise risk and enable people to cross the road safely. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a pedestrian crossing for a local secondary school. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will create five ‘golden rules’ for others learning about the topic of programmable systems. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Create and implement a set of tests for your prototype This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Hundreds of people are killed in accidents on roads in the United Kingdom every year. When schools are situated close to roads there is particular danger to children crossing them. A good, well programmed pedestrian control system can minimise risk and enable people to cross the road safely. In this unit of learning, learners will integrate a BBC micro:bit based programmable system into a working product prototype. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will create and implement a set of tests for their prototype and suggest possible improvements. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Manufacture the beep tester using the BBC micro:bit This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Technology can be used in sports to enhance performance and help participants to improve their fitness and stamina. For example, automated beep tests can be used to monitor fitness levels during training sessions, and set targets for future improvement. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for an electronic beep test that can be used to help people monitor and improve their fitness levels. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will use a vacuum former to manufacture a suitable casing and integrate the programmable system into a completed product. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Modify and improve the beep tester design This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Technology can be used in sports to enhance performance and help participants to improve their fitness and stamina. For example, automated beep tests can be used to monitor fitness levels during training sessions, and set targets for future improvement. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for an electronic beep test that can be used to help people monitor and improve their fitness levels. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will test their product against the design criteria and suggest possible improvements. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a home energy monitoring system that will inform people of how long they leave their lights and/or heating on during the day. In this activity, learners will develop their energy monitoring system using the BBC micro:bit. This is an ideal exercise for learners to develop programming skills, make use of programmable components and embed intelligence into a product design. This is a versatile activity that can be attempted by learners as individuals, in pairs or in small groups. If learners have not seen or used a block systems diagram before it might be necessary to describe this in more detail (i.e., what is meant by input, process, output etc.) This activity will take approximately 60 – 120 minutes depending on ability and prior experience of learners. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard BBC micro:bit system and online programming software Internet (to access programming software) Suitable input devices Crocodile clips or other wiring options (to attach input and/or output devices) What is the BBC micro:bit? The BBC micro:bit is a great way to get kids interested in computing. It is a small, programmable computer that can be used to create a wide variety of activities and projects. It is a powerful teaching and learning tool that helps learners develop their own systems and learn the basics of coding. It is an ideal tool for introducing children to programming concepts in a fun and engaging way. When writing the program, those who have not done programming before may benefit from writing, experimenting with and downloading the example program shown on the Teacher PowerPoint. They can use this as a base for their own program. The engineering context Home energy usage is an ideal topic for teaching about programmable components and embedded intelligence in products. These are key parts of the 2014 programme of study for Design and Technology at KS3. It is also an ideal vehicle for using the BBC micro:bit in the classroom and developing the programming skills of learners. Download the free Design a home energy system activity sheet! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Learners to demonstrate existing knowledge of sustainability issues in Design and Technology This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Reducing energy usage in the home saves money, increases energy security and reduces the need to burn unsustainable fossil fuels. The first step in doing this is monitoring how much energy is used each day. In this unit of learning, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a home energy usage monitoring system that will inform people how long they leave their lights and/or heating on during the day. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will demonstrate their existing knowledge of sustainability issues in Design and Technology. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Develop a programmable information system for users of the London Underground The London Underground is one of the busiest public transport systems in the world. It is used for over 1.2 billion journeys a year. Passengers need up to date information when using it so that they can plan their journeys well. This could be used as a main lesson activity with ‘Transport displays designed for users’ as the starter. It is an ideal exercise for learners to develop programming skills, make use of programmable components and embed intelligence into a product design. In this engaging activity students will use the BBC micro:bit to create a prototype for a travel information system that could be used by passengers on the underground. The system must provide both service (how well the network is running) and timetable information when different buttons are pressed. When writing the program those who have not done programming before may benefit from writing, experimenting with and downloading the example program shown on the Teacher PowerPoint (also provided as a PDF handout). They can use this as a base for their own program. This is provided as JavaScript Blocks Editor Powered by Microsoft MakeCode (microbit-transport-jsb.hex) and Python Editor (transport.py) code. Teachers will need to decide which programming editor is the most suitable for their learners. Code Kingdom can also be used. This activity will take approximately 60-120 minutes depending on the ability and prior experience of learners. Tools/resources required Projector/Whiteboard BBC micro:bit system and online programming software Internet (to access programming software) Suitable sensor inputs and sound outputs The engineering context Transport is an ideal topic for teaching about programmable components and embedded intelligence in products. These are key parts of the 2014 programme of study for Design and Technology at KS3. It is also an ideal vehicle for using the BBC micro:bit in the classroom and developing the programming skills of learners. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity students will understand a block systems diagram of an information system, they will be able to successfully program the BBC micro:bit so that the system meets the design criteria and they will be able to understand and apply the use of a moving text on an LED display. All activity sheets, worksheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Create design ideas for a display stand for your information system This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. The London Underground is one of the busiest public transport systems in the world. It is used for over 1.2 billion journeys a year. Passengers need up to date information when using it so that they can plan their journeys well. In this unit, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a programmable information system for users of the London Underground. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will design and develop ideas for a stand for the transport information display. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Investigate what information travellers on the London Underground need This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. The London Underground is one of the busiest public transport systems in the world. It is used for over 1.2 billion journeys a year. Passengers need up to date information when using it so that they can plan their journeys well. In this unit, learners will use the BBC micro:bit to develop a prototype for a programmable information system for users of the London Underground. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will investigate the needs of users of the London Underground, the information that they require and how programmable systems may help to provide solutions. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Develop a prototype step counter into a commercially viable product This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Walking is an excellent form of exercise that most people can take part in. The average person walks 3000-4000 steps per day. The National Health Service in the UK has set a challenge for each person to walk 10,000 steps per day. This can be counted using a step counter or stepometer. In this unit of learning, learners will integrate a BBC micro:bit based programmable system into a complete and commercially viable step counter product, that will aid people taking part in this challenge. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will develop their prototype stepometer into a completed, commercially viable product. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Examine and analyse existing products This is one of a set of resources developed to support the delivery of key topics within science and design and technology (DT). This resource focusses on analysing existing products. This could be used as a one-off activity or as part of a wider unit of work focussing on the design process. Activity: How to carry out a product analysis In this activity students will learn about two techniques that are commonly used to analyse existing products – the 5 Ws and ACCESS FM. They will discuss the key terms in each of these techniques and use them to investigate familiar products. They will also complete an interactive quiz to test their knowledge. The 5 Ws Who: Who is the user of the product? What: What does the product do? What materials is it made from? Where: Where is the product used? Where was it made? When: When is the product used? Why: Why does the product exist? Why is it designed the way that it is? ACCESS FM A = Aesthetics – How does the product appeal to the five senses? C = Cost – How much does the product cost to make or to buy? C = Customer – Who will buy or use the product? E = Environment – How does the product affect the environment? Is it made from recycled materials? S = Size – What is the length, width and height of the product? S = Safety – Is the product safe to use? F = Function – How does the product work? What does it do? M = Material – What materials and components have been used to make the product? The engineering context Understanding product analysis is vital for budding engineers. It equips them with the ability to evaluate how well products and systems perform their intended functions. By understanding why products are designed the way they are, they can devise better engineering solutions in the future. Suggested learning outcomes Upon completing this activity, students should understand what is meant by ‘product analysis’. They will be able to use the 5 Ws to examine existing products and apply ACCESS FM for detailed analysis. By discussing key terms and investigating familiar products, they will develop a deeper understanding of how products work and how they can be improved. This knowledge will serve as a solid foundation for their own design processes in the future. Download our activity sheets for free! The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as both a classroom lesson plan and a PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

A project to make and find out how far a paper plane can fly In this activity learners will make a paper plane to help them understand aerodynamics in action. They will also test it to see how far it will fly and the time it stays in the air. This activity could be used as a main lesson activity to teach learners about modelling and prototyping, or part of a wider scheme of learning covering manufacturing processes and techniques. It could also be used as part of an introduction to aerodynamics. Resources required: A4 printed paper aeroplane templates Stopwatches (to measure flight time during testing) Download the free activity sheet below! Download our activity sheet and other related resources for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. Please do share your highlights with us @IETeducation.

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of remote or robotic surgery Telemedicine is a new and fast developing field in healthcare. Even 20 years ago the idea of a surgeon being able to operate a robot from hundreds of miles away in order to perform an operation seemed like science fiction. Today, this is not only possible but engineers, working with scientists and doctors, are now designing robotic systems which will be able to operate on patients with no human intervention at all. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will explore the impact of modern technology on science, using telemedicine and robotics as a context. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Investigate some potential modifications to your solar powered night-light circuit The ‘Let there be light’ scheme of work involves investigating how photovoltaic cells are used and then using this technology to make a series of electronic circuits of increasing complexity. This could form the basis of a Design and Make Assignment (DMA) project in Design and Technology (D&T), with cross-curricular links with Science. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links An engaging activity in which students will investigate some potential modifications to the circuits they have designed and made in the ‘Let there be light 2’ activity. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the free activity sheet below! All activity sheets and supporting resources (including film clips!) are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Draw and annotate casing that meets a design brief and design criteria This is one of a series of resources to support the use of the BBC micro:bit in Design and Technology lessons. Flooding is becoming increasingly common in parts of the United Kingdom and causes a lot of damage to peoples’ homes. The sooner a potential flood can be detected, the more time homeowners have to prepare and to save their property. In this unit of learning, learners will identify the design problems presented by flooding. They will then develop a working flood warning system using the BBC micro:bit. Activity info, teachers’ notes and curriculum links In this activity, learners will design a suitable casing for their BBC micro:bit flood warning system. The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Download the activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation