BBC to give 1,000,000 'Micro Bit' computers

[Tiggs]

It's the first year of a major new coding curriculum in the UK, and now the BBC wants to play its part in training the next generation of star programmers. The broadcaster is developing a spiritual successor to the BBC Micro, called the Micro Bit, which will give students a physical companion in their path to coding competence. It's going to be a small, standalone device with an LED display that children can carry around with them and plug into a computer to continue their work. The hardware will be basic, as the BBC calls it a "starting point" for "more complex" devices such as the Raspberry Pi and Kickstarter-funded Kano kits. The project is still in a prototype phase, but the BBC claims it'll be ready to give away one million of the new microcomputers to year 7 students this autumn.

Source: Engadget

[DefenceMinisterMishkin]

The BBC and kids? This sounds like a bad idea already..

[Duke Wellington]

It's the first year of a major new coding curriculum in the UK, and now the BBC wants to play its part in training the next generation of star programmers. The broadcaster is developing a spiritual successor to the BBC Micro, called the Micro Bit, which will give students a physical companion in their path to coding competence. It's going to be a small, standalone device with an LED display that children can carry around with them and plug into a computer to continue their work. The hardware will be basic, as the BBC calls it a "starting point" for "more complex" devices such as the Raspberry Pi and Kickstarter-funded Kano kits. The project is still in a prototype phase, but the BBC claims it'll be ready to give away one million of the new microcomputers to year 7 students this autumn.

Source: Engadget

The first thing that's wrong is its a tax payer funded organisation so shouldn't they be asked first?

The second thing that's wrong is the kids will get more than just a basic computer for programming. They'll get political indoctrination from the BBC too. Will parents be able to censor the weird and wonderful bull coming out of the organisation?

[Setton]

The first thing that's wrong is its a tax payer funded organisation so shouldn't they be asked first?

The second thing that's wrong is the kids will get more than just a basic computer for programming. They'll get political indoctrination from the BBC too. Will parents be able to censor the weird and wonderful bull coming out of the organisation?

And the third thing that's wrong is children are meant to be competent programmers before the end of Primary school on the new curriculum. Too little, too late, as always in education.

[Duke Wellington]

And the third thing that's wrong is children are meant to be competent programmers before the end of Primary school on the new curriculum. Too little, too late, as always in education.

Our education system in the UK is based on faulty logic carried over from the Blair government. The reason why most children underperform at school isn't a lack of resources but a lack of academic ability. Spending more and more doesn't change anything (which includes giving them basic computers).

We should introduce the 11 plus throughout the UK and send the kids that pass to Grammar School. Put those who fail straight into the workforce with apprenticeships where they can learn a trade. This is how things were done 100 years ago and one of the reasons Britain was the worlds leading economic power - it didn't over tax the economy holding it back and spend the money on pointless socialist programs.

The state should give all those children going to Grammar School a laptop Xmas present. Let the parents choose which one from the shops and get them into programming.

[Setton]

Our education system in the UK is based on faulty logic carried over from the Blair government. The reason why most children underperform at school isn't a lack of resources but a lack of academic ability. Spending more and more doesn't change anything (which includes giving them basic computers).

We should introduce the 11 plus throughout the UK and send the kids that pass to Grammar School. Put those who fail straight into the workforce with apprenticeships where they can learn a trade. This is how things were done 100 years ago and one of the reasons Britain was the worlds leading economic power - it didn't over tax the economy holding it back and spend the money on pointless socialist programs.

The state should give all those children going to Grammar School a laptop Xmas present. Let the parents choose which one from the shops and get them into programming.

Simply not the case. I agree our education system is a mess but reverting to the system we had in the past is just plain stupid. The whole problem is that we haven't moved on from old systems so everything is aimed at recall and exams.

[toast]

I`m not an IT wizard but will it make sense to teach kids (that are at an age of 11-13 today) programming as it is practiced today

for the existing operating systems if we take into consideration that this way/kind of programming/operating systems might be totally

outdated in 10 years or so?

[Setton]

I`m not an IT wizard but will it make sense to teach kids (that are at an age of 11-13 today) programming as it is practiced today

for the existing operating systems if we take into consideration that this way/kind of programming/operating systems might be totally

outdated in 10 years or so?

It's more about teaching them the systematic approach to algorithms and debugging programmes than learning specific languages.

[SHaYap]

Go on ... do it again ...

~

~

[skookum]

Up till a few years ago I worked in Schools assessing youngsters doing IT systems and communication qualifications. All the schools I went in had scores or computers, laptops, interactive boards and even computer run conference suites.

They were being taught programming on various platforms. Basically they were impressively equipped, even the less IT focused schools.

I am not really sure why they need these with all the current kit they have.

[Setton]

Up till a few years ago I worked in Schools assessing youngsters doing IT systems and communication qualifications. All the schools I went in had scores or computers, laptops, interactive boards and even computer run conference suites.

They were being taught programming on various platforms. Basically they were impressively equipped, even the less IT focused schools.

I am not really sure why they need these with all the current kit they have.

Again, that's why I'd say it's going to the wrong phase, most secondary schools are well equipped. Most primary schools are woefully under-equipped for the new curriculum (the school I work in has just 20 computers in the ICT suite and classes of around 25).