Newark element14 to deliver 100,000 micro:bits to teach Canadian Children to Code
Canada is the latest country to choose the BBC micro:bit for coding education
Newark element14, the Development Distributor, is helping KidsCode Jeunesse roll out 100,000 micro:bits across Canada to support the country’s CanCode initiative. The micro:bits will be used by young people across Canada through a multi-partner agreement led by KidsCode Jeunesse, a bilingual national non-profit organization helping build long-term sustainable digital skill communities for Canadian children in every province and territory across the country.
Newark element14 is the sole distributer of micro:bits in Canada and has an exclusive contract with The Micro:bit Educational Foundation for the manufacture of micro:bits through its parent company Premier Farnell.
“As a father of four, the challenge of ensuring our younger generation is equipped with skills for the future is very close to home” said Dan Hill, President of Newark element14. “Newark element14 is committed to getting kids coding and helping to develop the next generation of engineers. Our partnership with The Micro:bit Educational Foundation is one way in which we do this. We have already seen this small coding device successfully integrated into large education programmes in the United Kingdom and Iceland, giving a whole generation within the country a head start in a global economy increasingly shaped by technology. It is fantastic to be partnering with KidsCode Jeunesse and helping the Government of Canada with this important initiative.”
Jonathan Smith, Head of Education at Premier Farnell added: “Physical computing provides real solutions for engaging the younger generation in technology, giving them the opportunity to design and create physical devices that they can use in their lives, whilst learning important skills. Problem solving and computational thinking are predicted to be key skills that children today will need when they leave education – physical computing including learning to code with the micro:bit can help teach these. Our relationship with The Micro:bit Educational Foundation is focused on putting as many micro:bits in kids hands as possible and we are delighted that the Government of Canada has chosen initiatives which use the micro:bit for their coding programme.”
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, together with David Lametti, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced local funding under the Government of Canada’s CanCode program last week. CanCode funds coding and other digital skills training for Canadian youth to prepare them for the jobs of the future. Through this programme the micro:bit will be used to teach coding to groups in the classroom, libraries and science centres.
Premier Farnell has provided micro:bits for many national and regional educational programmes including the United Kingdom, Iceland, Singapore and Croatia.
The micro:bit is available to buy from Newark element14 in North America, Farnell element14 in Europe and element14 in APAC.
Farnell Global is a fast and reliable distributor of products and technology for electronic and industrial system design, maintenance and repair. From research and design through prototype to production, Farnell helps its customers access the products and services they need 24/7. With more than 80 years of experience, 47 localised websites, and a dedicated team of over 3,500 employees, Farnell provides every component its customers need to build the technology of tomorrow.
Farnell Global trades as Farnell in Europe, Newark in North America, and element14 in Asia Pacific. It also sells direct to consumers through its CPC business in the UK.
Farnell Global has been part of the established global technology distributor, Avnet (Nasdaq: AVT), since 2016. Today, this relationship allows the company to support its customers at every stage of the product life cycle, offering a truly unique distribution model, as well as expertise in end-to-end delivery and product design.
For more information, visit http://www.farnell.com/
