Description
This micro:bit beginner project is for people getting started with the micro:bit and with writing computer code. It requires no previous coding experience and no knowledge of the micro:bit. In fact, you don’t even really need a micro:bit because you can use the simulator available in MakeCode. If you are using an actual micro:bit, you will need to know how to plug it into your computer.
Video
Programming Language
MakeCode Blocks
Difficulty Level
Easy beginner
Programming Concepts Covered
- Loops and Infinite Loops
Materials
No materials are required, but if you are planning to use a micro:bit, you will need a microUSB cord to plug it into your computer.
Designing the Project
There isn’t much to this project, so it might make a good project for students who are just learning how to write a problem statement and turn it into an algorithm, then develop pseudocode.
Develop the problem statement
The problem I am solving is:
How to make a design done in LEDs blink off and on
Write the Algorithm
The algorithm involves determining if the lights are on or off, then changing them to the opposite setting
- Forever
- Turn lights on
- Turn lights off
Write the Pseudocode
This is a really simple program so the pseudocode is not that much different from the algorithm. The big difference here is that I am adding a pause into the algorithm, knowing ahead of time that it’s necessary to see the image blink on and off. If you are using this for a class, it might be useful to leave that out to start and let the students determine the solution.
- Do Forever
- Show Light Array
- Pause
- Clear Light Array
- Pause
Write and Test the Code
Here is the video tutorial of the project
Sample Code
Here is the code I wrote