Farnell, an Avnet company and exclusive manufacturing partner of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, is now shipping a new BBC micro:bit, designed to open up a new world of opportunities for the next generation of students. Extended capabilities include greater memory capacity, a faster processor and, for the first time, “out of the box” sound and touch capabilities. The updated pocket-sized computer also provides future potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the classroom, paving the way for children to experiment with some of the world’s most transformative technologies.

Farnell has manufactured and shipped more than five million devices since 2016, helping the Foundation reach an estimated 25 million children in more than 60 countries who have learnt digital creativity and computing skills. The micro:bit has been adopted by educational organisations around the world to support Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) learning programmes.

The Foundation worked directly with teachers and the community of micro:bit fans to drive the selection of updates, ensuring the updated micro:bit meets current and future requirements. One of the most requested enhancements was the addition of a built-in speaker and microphone to allow children to be creative with sound and music. As part of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s commitment to keep the device as cost-effective and accessible as possible, the updated feature-rich micro:bit is available at the same price as the original version.

The updated micro:bit is packed with new technology and improved features, including:

• Computing power – The main Nordic nRF52833 microprocessor runs at 64MHz with 512kB of flash storage (double the storage in comparison to the original micro:bit), and an eightfold increase in RAM to 128kB. The micro:bit also includes a discrete regulator that can supply up to 200mA of current to external accessories.
• Audio components – A MEMS sensor microphone and 9mm magnetic loudspeaker are partnered with a dedicated recording LED to indicate when the microphone is on, allowing teachers to engage with students around privacy and the impact of listening devices.
• Programming – Official micro:bit editors support both versions of the micro:bit simultaneously with a single download using a new type of universal hex file. For ease of use, if they are using features that are on both versions of the micro:bit, users will not have to select a device.
• Touch capabilities – The device includes a touch sensitive logo enabling users to take on new exciting tasks or expand previous micro:bit projects.
• Ease of use: a built-in sleep/off mode that means the board can be powered-down with batteries connected.

The Micro:bit Educational Foundation provides a range of resources for educators on micro:bit.org, including micro:bit classroom. Micro:bit classroom makes it easy to save progress and start again at the same point in the next lesson, monitor student progress in the classroom and download code into word to provide evidence of student progress – all making programming lessons easier to manage and more productive.

Gareth Stockdale, CEO of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, said: “The purpose of the micro:bit is to help children unlock their creative potential and learn how to shape the world around them. Learning coding and computational thinking can enhance their life chances in the 21st century. We have worked closely with our thriving community to make it even easier to get the most out of the device both inside and outside the classroom. Getting hands-on and experimenting with the micro:bit is critical to helping children better understand important technologies early in their development, and we aim to make this as fun, accessible and affordable as possible. Our partnership with Farnell has been key to the success of the project and we thank them for their continued support as we impact more young people around the world.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell said: “We are very proud of Farnell’s longstanding partnership with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, which has made a significant difference to the education of children across the world. As the exclusive manufacturer of the micro:bit, Farnell has worked closely with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation throughout the design and development process and managed supply chain to ensure availability of the board. We also continue to work with major educational organisations to support the introduction of the micro:bit into the classroom through bespoke country-wide programmes. The updated micro:bit signifies a major step forward and enables students to gain insight into an even broader range of technologies to support them as they prepare for careers in the digital economy.”

Farnell has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom, and stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in class, school and multiple-school quantities. Farnell can also offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes similar to the Super:bit programme in Norway.

Farnell also provides a range of resources to assist educators and parents supporting children with STEM. The element14 Community’s STEM Academy provides a wealth of content and support for those looking to get started with the micro:bit. This dedicated online hub is designed for people who want to explore learning concepts and classroom-based design projects within the electronics and digital space. The element14 Community’s ‘The Learning Circuit’ series features a number of instructional videos which take viewers through different ways to learn and explore with micro:bit. These short videos teach users how to apply micro:bit to their designs and offer instruction and advice on bringing projects to life.

The micro:bit and a wide range of accessories are available to order now from Farnell in EMEA and Newark in North America. Search “Farnell micro:bit” for more information.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and the exclusive manufacturing partner of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, is celebrating the manufacture of 5 million BBC micro:bit devices since its launch in 2016. The micro:bit has been adopted by multiple educational organisations around the world to support STEM learning through formal programmes, helping the Foundation reach an estimated 25 million children in more than 60 countries who have learnt digital creativity and computing skills. The micro:bit has been adopted by educational organisations around the world to support Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) learning programmes.

Today, the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, announced a new micro:bit offering greater memory capacity, a faster processor and, for the first time, “out of the box” sound and touch functionality. More information is available from micro:bit.org. The new micro:bit will be available to order from Farnell in November.

Farnell has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom, and stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in class, school and multiple-school quantities. Farnell can also offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes similar to the Super:bit programme in Norway.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell said: “Farnell is proud to be the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s exclusive manufacturer and we are delighted to join our partners in celebrating the manufacture of 5 million micro:bit and their announcement of an updated micro:bit today.”

Farnell also provides a range of resources to assist educators and parents supporting children with STEM. The element14 Community’s STEM Academy provides a wealth of content and support for those looking to get started with the micro:bit. This dedicated online hub is designed for people who want to explore learning concepts and classroom-based design projects within the electronics and digital space. The element14 Community’s ‘The Learning Circuit’ series features a number of instructional videos which take viewers through different ways to learn and explore with micro:bit. These short videos teach users how to apply micro:bit to their designs and offer instruction and advice on bringing projects to life. The Micro:bit Educational Foundation also offer a range of resources on micro:bit.org.

To find out more about the BBC micro:bit visit farnell.com/bbc-microbit or join the conversation on the element14 Community.

As learning continues to take place in the home environment, Farnell, the Development Distributor, has launched a new campaign entitled ‘Stay Home Stay Tuned’. The campaign provides access to a range of free interactive learning activities, including tutorials and coding challenges with a comprehensive round-up of easy-to-use electronic devices that support remote STEM learning. Resources include links to content from the Micro:bit Educational Foundation. The Micro:bit Educational Foundation is a member of UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Global Education Coalition, which aims to mitigate the negative impact of unprecedented educational disruption caused by the ongoing pandemic. According to UNESCO, around 1.3 billion students around the globe are currently impacted by school and university closures due to COVID-19.

For design engineers and hobbyists, the Stay Home Stay Tuned online hub also features:

• A comprehensive round-up of the most popular products from leading global suppliers, such as Keysight and Rohde & Schwarz, that are ideal for professional home-learning projects.
• A series of webinars with supplier partners on topics such as testing for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, how to get more out of your oscilloscope and 3D printing.
• Links to design challenges and quizzes run by the element14 Community, including the community’s latest Project14 challenge focusing on fighting germs.

The Stay Home Stay Tuned online learning resources are available to access now at Farnell in EMEA.

Newark, the Development Distributor, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the BBC micro:bit, is working to support product-led educational initiatives globally. Programs supported by Newark aim to create fun and interactive learning opportunities for students to develop an understanding of computing and electronics at a young age, and build a pathway to a range of engineering and technology-driven careers.

One of the latest programs to be supported by Newark is the series of how-to videos featuring micro:bit that are part of the element14 Community’s element14Presents: The Learning Circuit video series. In these instructional videos, host Karen Corbeill takes viewers through different ways to learn and explore with micro:bit. These short videos teach users how to apply micro:bit to their designs and offer instruction and advice on bringing projects to life.

“Getting started with electronics can be quite daunting,” said Karen Corbeill. “micro:bit is a great gateway tool with an amazing number of features for such a low price point. From being able to program using code blocks or simply clipping on accessories without having to solder or even just grabbing a piece of pre-programmed code, it is a wonderful way to get newbies hooked on electronics."

Newark also continues to work with governments, re-sellers and strategic partnerships to support product-led educational initiatives globally. The micro:bit has experienced significant success since its launch through a program led by the BBC in the UK in 2016. Since this date, over 2.5m micro:bit boards have been sold globally, supporting programs as far flung as Denmark, Canada and Singapore. Sales of this popular coding device almost doubled in the last 12 months, over the previous period, with more than half of sales supporting broad educational programs.

The latest program is currently being rolled out in Norway. Entitled “super:bit”, this project is a collaboration between the national science centers, the organization “Teach kids code” and national broadcaster NRK, in Norway. The national rollout provides a classroom kit of technology to each of the 2,400 secondary schools in Norway, over two years, starting in September 2019. The kits have an interactive smart city theme and pupils will learn how to use the micro:bit through applications such as planning traffic flow around green spaces by using sensors to control traffic lights. The kits, shipped by Farnell, include micro:bits, robots, and other electronic and non-electronic components.

“We are committed to supporting the education of future generations of engineers by making it easier to introduce children to the world of electronics,” said Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computers at Farnell and Newark. “Series such as The Learning Circuit enable users to better understand electronics with easy access to expertise and educational resources in the form of the videos. Newark, as the manufacturer and distributor of the micro:bit, and global electronics distributor, is uniquely able to support these programs.”

“Our mission to help children and teachers to take their first steps with technology and broaden participation with digital creativity continues to grow with multiple large scale programs in over 30 countries,” added Gareth Stockdale CEO, micro:bit Educational Foundation. We continue to work with Newark to ensure that the BBC micro:bit is available all around the world and that children are able to expand their computational thinking and create their best digital future.”

micro:bit products, accessories and a variety of free-to-download educational resources and lesson plans are available online from Newark in North America, Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC. To watch The Learning Circuit visit https://www.element14.com/community/community/element14-presents/thelearningcircuit

Farnell, the Development Distributor, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the BBC micro:bit, is working with governments, re-sellers and strategic partnerships to support product-led educational initiatives globally. Programmes supported by Farnell aim to create fun and interactive learning environments for students to develop an understanding of electronics at a young age, and build a pathway into a range of engineering and technology-driven careers.

The micro:bit has experienced significant success since its launch through a programme led by the BBC in the UK in 2016. Since this date, Farnell has shipped over 2.5m micro:bit boards globally, supporting programmes as far flung as Denmark, Canada and Singapore. Sales of this popular coding device almost doubled in the last 12 months, over the previous period, with more than half of sales supporting broad educational programmes.

The latest programme to be supported by Farnell is being rolled out in Norway. Entitled “super:bit”, this project is a collaboration between the national science centres, the organisation “Teach kids code” and national broadcaster NRK, in Norway. The national rollout provides a classroom kit of technology to each of the 2,400 secondary schools in Norway, over two years, starting in September 2019. The kits have an interactive smart city theme and pupils will learn how to use the micro:bit through applications such as planning traffic flow around green spaces by using sensors to control traffic lights. The kits, shipped by Farnell, include micro:bits, robots, and other electronic and non-electronic components.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computers at Farnell says, “We are committed to educating and inspiring future generations of engineers by making it easier to introduce children to the world of electronics in schools and code clubs. Programmes such as ‘super:bit’ in Norway enable teachers to teach basic electronics and computational thinking with easy access to products and educational resources. Farnell, as the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the micro:bit, and global electronics distributor, is uniquely able to support programmes such as this.”

Gareth Stockdale CEO, Micro:bit Educational Foundation added, “Our mission to help children and teachers to take their first steps with technology and broaden participation with digital creativity continues to grow with large scale programmes in over 30 countries. We continue to work with Farnell to ensure that the BBC micro:bit is available all around the world and that these large projects are facilitated.”

To further support the rollout of micro:bit as a tool for STEM education in schools, Farnell is the sponsor for the very first annual gathering of the global micro:bit community of educators and partners on 4^th and 5^th October in Manchester. micro:bit Live 2019 aims to develop the micro:bit Educational Foundation's mission to inspire every child to create their best digital future and is an opportunity for all those involved in educational initiatives and partnerships, from government level to resellers and electronics engineers to share their experiences, tips and best practices to help achieve this mission.

micro:bit products, accessories and a range of free-to-download educational resources and lesson plans  are available online from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, is now stocking Kitronik products; an exciting range of accessories for micro:bit, Arduino and Raspberry Pi, perfect for educators, students, makers and hobbyists.

Kitronik products encourage imagination and creativity when used in conjunction with the latest generation of open-source programmable computer boards. The kits and accessories enable interaction between programming and hardware, making them ideal for developing computational thinking skills in younger students. This new partnership with Kitronik enhances Farnell’s range of products for education and builds upon its position as the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the BBC micro:bit, the largest manufacturer and distributor of Raspberry Pi boards and major stockist of Arduino boards.

Kitronik products can be used to support STEM education in classrooms and after school clubs and seek to engage and inspire students of all abilities to further their knowledge of electronics, coding and design. Farnell stocks everything required to get started in physical computing for both education establishments and independent coding clubs.

Kitronik products and accessories for the micro:bit in stock at Farnell include:

• The Inventors Kit  provides an introduction to programming and hardware interaction and contains everything required to carry out ten experiments with the micro:bit, using LEDs, motors, light sensors and capacitors. The kit includes an easy to follow tutorial book and no programming experience or soldering is required. Circuits can be completed in minutes.

• The MOVE mini buggy kit provides a fun introduction to robotics making a two-wheeled robot that is suitable for autonomous operation. It is perfect for remote control projects via Bluetooth applications or control using a second micro:bit. Five RGB individually addressable Zip™ LEDs are included which can be used as indicators, and a pen can be attached to the robot to draw shapes. Kitronik’s custom code blocks for the Servo:Lite motors are available to make the task of coding as quick and painless as possible.

• The Kitronik: GAME ZIP 64 is the ultimate retro gaming accessory for the BBC micro:bit. It has been designed to be an all in one hand-held gaming platform, which includes a built-in, 64 (8x8) individually addressable full colour Zip™ LED screen. It features on-board sound, four directional buttons, two fire buttons, haptic feedback, and breakout points so that shoulder buttons or I2C devices can be added. All of these features are fully programmable and breakout points are available to allow for the use of larger LED screens.

Courtney Kennedy, Technology Solutions Marketing Manager at Farnell says “The addition of Kitronik further broadens our existing wide range of open-source educational and STEM products. The Kitronik range provides educators with new and creative ways to inspire students to get involved in physical computing, providing easy access to devices that enable them to promote the development of key skills such as computational thinking.”

Farnell’s support for the development of the next generation of electronics engineers includes free resources, including lesson plans, project ideas and more, available on the Farnell website. Farnell has a broad range of products within its product range that promote learning about physical computing, an important way for children to develop computational thinking and team working skills.

The Kitronik products and accessories for micro:bit, Arduino and Raspberry Pi are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

element14.com, the online community for engineers, has donated 250 micro:bit devices to support coding in the classroom, providing teachers around the world with the tools they need to facilitate a range of inspiring education projects.

‘The Great micro:bit Education Giveaway’ was launched in August 2018 and invited STEM educators to submit a proposal for a project they would like to run using micro:bit. 25 applicants were selected to receive a micro:bit club pack – each containing ten devices and associated accessories including batteries, adapters and USB cables.

The successful applicants were asked to document the progress of their projects on the element14 Community. Highlights included maker sessions for young and vulnerable children in New Brunswick, Canada, in a series of projects for G:RL Power Code Fest Americas - an event supporting young female coders in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – and the development of an interactive mental arithmetic challenge by a group of students in Pennsylvania, USA.

Three projects which were deemed to have demonstrated exceptional merit and creativity were selected for special recognition and a micro:bit prize package to help further their development. Educators Robert Ancell from New Zealand, Andrei Beloiu from Romania and Wil Lindsay from the USA were announced as the winners.

Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for the element14 Community and Premier Farnell, said: “As a key distributing partner for the micro:bit foundation, promoting coding and digital literacy in education is one of our highest priorities. The overwhelming global response to our Great Education Giveaway is a testament to the incredible things STEM teachers can accomplish with the right tools and support.”

Details of the Great micro:bit Education Challenge, including the winner blogs and project highlights, can be found here: https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-91357/l/the-great-microbit-education-giveaway-winners

To register to become a member of the element14 Community, visit http://www.element14.com/

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, is making it easy to find the perfect gift for even the hardest to shop for engineer this holiday season with handpicked gifts for engineers of all ages and abilities, from those with decades of experience to those just starting out.

“Picking out the right gift for the engineer on your list need not be a stressful time,” says Ankur Tomar, Technical Marketing Manager at Premier Farnell “Premier Farnell aims to simplify the gift-giving process by making it easy for shoppers to delight engineers, develop their skills, and turn their ideas into reality. Whether you’re shopping for a gadget collector, budding engineer, hobbyist, or professional, Premier Farnell is one-stop-shop for finding something they’re sure to love.”

Fun gifts for the young engineer:

• CODEBUG Development Board: A fun, engaging entry-level introduction to the world of coding, physical computing and electronics that’s shaped like a ladybug.
• micro:bit wear:it Development Kit: Build it, code it and wear it! This kit includes everything young engineers need to power their first wearable technology project. The versatile micro:bit enclosure is designed for mobile applications and can be used with a wrist strap, keyring or lanyard.
• MARTY the Robot: A fully programmable, Wi-Fi enabled robot who can walk, turn, dance and react to his environment. This educational kit is great for kids, makers and educators.

Essential kits for every maker, designer and engineer:

• Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Starter Kit: A complete kit including power supply, enclosure and SD card to get started developing with the latest Raspberry Pi.
• Raspberry Pi Desktop: A revolutionary set of accessories to convert your Raspberry Pi into a functional desktop computer with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Real Time Clock, Camera and SSD. The new Pi Desktop displays to an HDMI interface for an authentic PC experience.
• Creality CR-10S 3D Printer: A low cost solution to 3D printing for any maker or hobbyist.

Tools and accessories for the maker who seems to have it all:

• Raspberry Pi Camera Board: An image sensor custom designed to add-on to the Raspberry Pi. Perfect for any projects that require the capturing of images with Raspberry Pi.
• Matrix Voice: An open-source voice recognition platform for the Raspberry Pi that provides developers with the opportunity to integrate custom voice & hardware-accelerated machine learning technology right onto the silicon.
• Bitscope Oscilloscope & Logic Analyzer: A full featured mixed signal oscilloscope, test and measurement system that is perfect for an experienced maker or engineer.

Newark element14, the Development Distributor, is making it easy to find the perfect gift for even the hardest to shop for engineer this holiday season. Featuring more than 30 unique products, Newark element14’s Holiday Gift Guide includes a range of developer kits and other tools for engineers of all ages and abilities, from those with decades of experience to those just starting out.

“Picking out the right gift for the engineer on your list need not be a stressful time,” says Becky McMorrow, Head of Marketing at Newark element14. “Newark element14 aims to simplify the gift-giving process by making it easy for shoppers to delight engineers, develop their skills, and turn their ideas into reality. Whether you’re shopping for a gadget collector, budding engineer, hobbyist, or professional, our gift guide is a one-stop-shop for finding something they’re sure to love.”

Fun gifts for the young engineer:

• CODEBUG Development Board: A fun, engaging entry-level introduction to the world of coding, physical computing and electronics that’s shaped like a ladybug. Price: $16.60
• micro:bit wear:it Development Kit: Build it, code it and wear it! This kit includes everything young engineers need to power their first wearable technology project. The versatile micro:bit enclosure is designed for mobile applications and can be used with a wrist strap, keyring or lanyard. Price: $26.67
• 3D Printing Pen: Children ages 8 and up can bring their ideas to life with a pen that takes heated plastic that cools into the shapes they design, allowing them to draw 3D objects in mid-air. Price: $39.99

Essential kits for every maker, designer and engineer:

• Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Starter Kit: A complete kit including power supply, enclosure and SD card to get started developing with the latest Raspberry Pi. Price: $64.99
• Raspberry Pi Parts Kit: Includes all the essentials for electronics design: 12 LEDS, PIR sensor, photo resistor, buzzer, tactile button, GPIO reference board, breadboard, temperature sensors, screw terminal block, 30 jumper wires, capacitor and ohm resistors. Price: $18.70
• Creality CR-10S 3D Printer: A low cost solution to 3D printing for any maker or hobbyist. Price: $489.00

Tools and accessories for the maker who seems to have it all:

• Raspberry Pi Camera Board: An image sensor custom designed to add-on to the Raspberry Pi. Perfect for any projects that require the capturing of images with Raspberry Pi. Price: $30.23
• Matrix Voice: An open-source voice recognition platform for the Raspberry Pi that provides developers with the opportunity to integrate custom voice & hardware-accelerated machine learning technology right onto the silicon. Price: $58.88
• Bitscope Oscilloscope & Logic Analyzer: A full featured mixed signal oscilloscope, test and measurement system that is perfect for an experienced maker or engineer. Price: $145.00

To see all of the products featured in the Newark element14 Holiday Gift Guide, visit www.newark.com/holidaydeals

Farnell element14, the Development Distributor, has begun to ship 65,000 micro:bit to schools in Denmark as part of an order from Boarding on behalf of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. The three-year ‘ultra:bit’ programme, will use the micro:bit in the classroom to help transform Danish Year 4 students from passive technology consumers to digital pioneers.

Jonathan Smith, Head of Education at Premier Farnell and Farnell element14 said: “Programmes like this are essential if we are to break the cycle of ‘ready-made’ technology and prepare a generation of students for a working economy that will value skills such as computational thinking, problem solving and creativity more than ever before. Working with devices such as the micro:bit, an activity we describe as physical computing allows students to venture into the real world with complex problem solving based around technology, and takes them from being mere consumers of technology to become creative thinkers capable of developing brand new dynamic solutions.”

Supplied with support from the Danish Industry Foundation, Industriens Fond, in collaboration with the country’s Centre for Learning Materials, CFU Denmark, the micro:bits will be used to develop the students’ understanding of technology and stimulate their digital creativity. With an overarching theme of ‘Children, Creativity and Technology’, the programme includes a broad variety of TV productions targeting children, as well as teacher training, classroom resources, a series of roadshows and even a children’s drama based around the micro:bit.

Rob Rospedzihowski, Vice President of Sales at Farnell element14, EMEA, said:” As the Development Distributor, Farnell element14 is committed to helping develop the next generation of engineers and devices such as the micro:bit enable us to do this right from the start. We are working with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation and organisations globally to get micro:bit into the hands of more and more students. To date we have helped deploy around 2 million devices in education, in over 55 countries worldwide including larger programmes in the United Kingdom, Iceland, Croatia, Canada and Singapore. We believe equipping students and teachers with the right tools will create new opportunities for a whole generation as they enter the workforce and programmes such as Ultra-bit in Denmark are leading the world in preparing students as the digital economy gather pace.”

The project is also supported by other organisations, including the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Micro:bit Foundation, IT and Learning Board, Engineer the Future, Coding Pirates, DigiPippi, BUPL and Danish School Students.

Find out more about the micro:bit on the element14 community: https://www.element14.com/community/community/stem-academy/microbit

element14.com has launched a giveaway for educators to help get the popular BBC micro:bit coding device into the hands of more students and get teachers talking about how to use it in the classroom.

For many students and educators, the month of August signifies the approaching return to school, and shopping for the classroom. The element14 community is asking educators to register on the community and post their plan for how they would use the BBC micro:bit in their classroom, after school club, or wherever they might be trying to help others learn to code. Twenty educators will be selected to receive a BBC micro:bit Club, each containing 10 BBC micro:bit boards, battery adapters, batteries, and USB cables.

The twenty educators will then have 10 weeks to implement their plan and document it on the Community through a blog or vlog, including a lesson plan. On December 10^th, three educators will be selected to receive a prize pack of BBC micro:bit accessories and other items that will expand the potential of the BBC micro:bit board. The accessory pack will include the element14 Minode Kit, element14 Wear:it Kit, Kitronik Inventor's Kit, Kitronik Move mini Robot Kit and the Proto-Pic Micro:Pixel LED Expansion Board.

Dianne Kibbey, Head of the element14 community and social media for Premier Farnell said: “We want to get educators talking to us, and each other, about how they could use the BBC micro:bit – a coding device developed to help children of all skill levels explore their creative potential through coding. We know that funding for equipment to teach coding, as well as training for the teachers themselves, continues to be one of the greatest challenges for educators. We want to get more BBC micro:bit in the hands of students, whilst also providing educators with a place to share their ideas and tips. The element14 community was created for engineers, to help them develop their skills, stay in touch with the latest technologies and be inspired – the element14 STEM academy aims to provide the same support and inspiration for educators.”

Once registered on the element14 community educators will have access to news, reviews and projects for the BBC micro:bit, be able to participate in roadtests for the latest and greatest micro:bit accessories and gain access to the support of a community of over half a million engineers and educators.

Educators have until September 19^th 2018 to register and post their ideas on https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-90468/l/the-great-microbit-education-giveaway

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, is helping to create the next generation of digital engineers by providing kits and support to help youngsters to learn the fundamental skills of coding. The company offers one of the widest range of educational aids targeted at tomorrow’s coders and application developers including products such as Codebug, BBC micro:bit, Raspberry Pi and the newly launched Arduino CTC101 classroom kit.

“Digitally based industries across the globe face an ongoing skills shortage in coding. This has led to an increase in the development of educational programmes that provide children with access to coding skills through hands-on learning, helping tackle these challenges for the future”, says Peter Wenzel, Global Head of Software and Single Board Computing for Premier Farnell: “At Premier Farnell, the combination of our exclusively manufactured boards such as the BBC micro:bit and Codebug, and successful manufacturing partnerships with other suppliers including Raspberry Pi and BeagleBoard, mean that we can offer one of the most comprehensive ranges of educational boards on the market.”

“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 day to day lives, whilst learning important skills”, adds Jonathan Smith, Head of Education at Premier Farnell: “Problem solving and computational thinking are key skills that our children will need when they leave education. This is where physical computing, including learning to code with devices such as CodeBug and the BBC micro:bit, can help in the teaching process.”

Key products suitable for coding education at different ages are:

• The Codebug is a small coding device for students age 7+. Shaped like a ladybird, CodeBug provides a fun and engaging way to build interactive devices. The device incorporates 25 LED lights, 2 control buttons, and 6 ‘legs’ which can be used to connect croc-clips, banana plugs or even sewn to. Ideas to get started with the Codebug can be found on the element14 community at https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-78413/l/10-codebug-projects-in-10-days BBC micro:bit was developed to teach students from age 11+. Measuring 4cm by 5cm, it is available in a range of colours and designed to be fun and easy to use. Similar to the Codebug, it can be coded with no prior knowledge of computing although has more extensive functionality such as motion detection, a built-in compass and Bluetooth technology to test young coders as they develop their skills, exposing them to technology which existing in the world around them. Ideas to get started with the BBC micro:bit can be found on the element14 community at https://www.element14.com/community/community/stem-academy/microbit/blog/2016/05/26/10-bbc-microbit-projects-in-ten-days.
• Premier Farnell has also recently launched several add-ons for the BBC micro:bit that help to build fun and support into learning to code. These include the mi:node, which is designed to teach youngsters the basics of IoT mechanics as interconnectivity becomes part of their everyday lives, and the MBIT-WEARIT- Development Kit, a versatile micro:bit enclosure specially designed to build mobile applications that can be used with a wrist strap, keyring or lanyard.
• Within Arduino’s wide range of education products stocked by Premier Farnell is the Arduino CTC101 classroom kit: a modular program aimed at teaching students, aged 13 to 17 years, the foundations of programming, electronics, and mechanics through a series of playful, well-documented projects and easy-to-assemble experiments.

“At Premier Farnell we’re passionate about supporting engineering and electronics in education”, continues Peter Wenzel:” We’re not alone though - the world’s leading technology companies such as Microsoft, Google and Samsung are also working to address an industry-wide challenge to develop more electronics engineers by creating content, courses and platforms built around the products we manufacture and supply. The range of boards and ancillary products available from Premier Farnell is backed up by guidance and support through online resources available from the STEM Academy and the widely used element14 Community which has over 500,000 members and is the largest forum of its kind in the engineering, student and maker community.”

Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

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.

Premier Farnell, The Development Distributor has signed an agreement with the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNet) for delivery of 45,000 BBC micro:bit in an official national rollout led by a privately financed nonprofit IRIM. As part of the national rollout, all students in Grade 6 will receive a BBC micro:bit to help them develop their skills in the world of coding and programming. Iceland and Singapore are already fans of the BBC micro:bit with both their governments rolling out the device to one age group of schools through a national education programme. Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

IRIM, a privately-funded Croatian nonprofit organization, has already deployed more than 20,000 BBC micro:bit in over 1,000 elementary and secondary schools, universities and libraries through the largest crowdfunding campaign in Croatia to date. In this deployment IRIM successfully educated 2,000 teachers, most of whom had never before, or rarely, coded, evidencing the transforming potential of the BBC micro:bit and its ecosystem.

The pocket-sized programmable device helps children learn how to code and develop their electronic and technological skills.

Following the success of its launch in the UK and roll out to one million year seven children, as part of the BBC’s Make It Digital campaign, the BBC micro:bit is now available to buy across the globe.

Ralf Buehler, SVP Sales and Marketing for Premier Farnell, says: “Countries across the globe continue to face a skills shortage in coding, digital technology and engineering. We are seeing an increase in interest in developing educational programmes that provide children with access to coding skills through hands on learning to help tackle these challenges for the future. The BBC micro:bit is a proven tool to help schools inspire children, through an introduction to coding, to consider Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects and potential careers within these industries.”

Nenad Bakić, the President of IRIM stated: “We have developed an extensive family of STEM projects in Croatian schools and neighboring countries. We were looking for a technology which could totally democratize teaching of coding, and we are very happy to discover the BBC micro:bit, as a very unique piece of technology in that regard. Since coding has not been a regular part of Croatian curriculum, this deployment in fact means official introducing of coding to Croatian schools.”

Since the UK launch, research undertaken by the BBC found that 39% of girls said that they would now definitely choose ICT/computing subjects compared to 23% who were surveyed before. 86% said it made computer science more interesting and 88% said it showed that coding isn’t as hard as they thought.

The new contract between Premier Farnell and the CARNet will replicate the success of the UK launch of the BBC micro:bit and will help support the development of the next generation of engineers, via coding from a young age.

The BBC Micro:bit is available to buy from Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Apac.

The Micro:bit computers used during the workshops and given to participating middle school girls are donated by Newark element14, an electronics components distributor based in Chicago. The Micro:bit provides an easy-to-learn, hands-on introduction to tech, allowing beginners to quickly move beyond simple coding to explore the more creative opportunities that technology makes possible.

The workshopss are sponsored by TechGirlz, a nonprofit organization dedicated to decreasing the gender gap in technology jobs. The free TechGirlz workshops give girls the chance to explore different kinds of technology and learn about career options in various high tech fields.

“Newark element14 is pleased to work with TechGirlz and Microsoft to help girls get excited about technology and the careers that tech can offer them,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media at Newark element14, who will also help deliver classes at one of the workshops. “At Newark element14, we are passionate about inspiring our younger generation to consider a career in technology, and provide support to teachers looking to introduce technology projects into the classroom through our STEM academy on the element14 community. I have worked in tech for 25 years and I am personally excited about inspiring more girls to consider technology as a career option and introducing them to the huge opportunities available.”

The TechGirlz workshops will take place from 9am to noon on Oct. 21, 2017 at the Northbridge Microsoft Store at 520 Michigan Ave. in Chicago, and at the Shaumburg Microsoft Store at 5 Woodfield Mall, in Shaumburg. To register for the workshops, visit the TechGirlz website: http://bit.ly/2yqZvGf.

The Micro:bit is available for purchase in North America from www.newark.com.

element14, The Development Distributor, is now shipping the BBC Micro:bit to customers in India as they join The Micro:bit Education Foundation to officially launch the coding device in India at Didac, Bombay Exhibition Centre, 19-21 September 2017.

The BBC micro:bit was originally launched in the UK in March 2016 following an educational programme led by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), in partnership with a group of technology partners including ARM, Microsoft and element14. Since launch in the UK there have been 13 million visits to the microbit.org website, nearly 10 million code simulator runs and 2 million compiles to devices. The use of the micro:bit in education is also delivering a positive change in attitudes towards STEM*.

• 39% of girls said that they would definitely choose ICT/computing compared to 23% before
• 86% said it made computer science more interesting
• 88% said it showed that coding isn’t as hard as they thought

Measuring only 4cm by 5cm, the BBC micro:bit is a hands-on, easy-to-use introduction to the world of technology and is packed with features that provide endless possibilities for creativity. The device is supported by a website, www.microbit.org that features a range of resources and tutorials to help users take advantage of the micro:bit’s vast potential.

The micro:bit includes:

• 25 red LEDs – light them up, flash messages, create games, and invent digital stories

• Two programmable buttons – associate them with an action and interact with your projects

• On-board motion detector – just like a smartphone; the micro:bit can react to shakes, tilts, and even drops

• A built-in compass – sense which direction you’re facing and your movement in degrees

• Bluetooth Smart Technology and Low Energy – connect to the internet and the world around you, whether that’s other micro:bits, phones, cameras, or tablets to ‘code on the go’ or take selfies

• Five Input and Output rings – connect the micro:bit directly to other devices using crocodile clips or 4mm banana plugs, and send commands back and forth

Ralf Buehler, SVP Sales and Marketing for Premier Farnell, said: “The BBC micro:bit project was a milestone event in the world of STEM education and computer programming in the UK – and we are delighted to make it available to buy through element14 in India . As the Development Distributor, we are committed to helping develop the future of technology, whether that is supporting customers building products that can change the world for the better, or helping a teacher inspire their class to get into coding. The BBC micro:bit is a fantastic way to introduce students to coding – allowing hands-on application of technology in a way that can inspire our younger generations.”

The BBC micro:bit is available in a range of pack sizes from single BBC micro:bit and ‘micro:bit go’ packs which include a USB cable, battery holder & 2x AAA batteries along with a Quick Start Guide and four inspirational ideas to get started; to ‘Club’ packs of 10 and bulk boxes of 300.

The BBC micro:bit is available from element14. Visitors to Didac can find out more at the Micro:bit & CBIS stand, Stand C6c.

The BBC Micro:bit is available to buy from element14 in India, visit http://in.element14.com/bbc-microbit

element14, The Development Distributor, is now shipping the BBC Micro:bit to customers in Japan as they join The Micro:bit Education Foundation to officially launch the coding device in Japan at the Tokyo Maker Faire, 4-5 August 2017.

The BBC micro:bit was originally launched in the UK in March 2016 following an educational programme led by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), in partnership with a group of technology partners including ARM, Microsoft and Premier Farnell. Since launch in the UK there have been 13 million visits to the microbit.org website, nearly 10 million code simulator runs and 2 million compiles to devices. The use of the micro:bit in education is also delivering a positive change in attitudes towards STEM*.

• 39% of girls said that they would definitely choose ICT/computing compared to 23% before
• 86% said it made computer science more interesting
• 88% said it showed that coding isn’t as hard as they thought

Measuring only 4cm by 5cm, the BBC micro:bit is a hands-on, easy-to-use introduction to the world of technology and is packed with features that provide endless possibilities for creativity. The device is supported by a website, www.microbit.org that features a range of resources and tutorials to help users take advantage of the micro:bit’s vast potential.

The micro:bit includes:

• 25 red LEDs – light them up, flash messages, create games, and invent digital stories

• Two programmable buttons – associate them with an action and interact with your projects

• On-board motion detector – just like a smartphone; the micro:bit can react to shakes, tilts, and even drops

• A built-in compass – sense which direction you’re facing and your movement in degrees

• Bluetooth Smart Technology and Low Energy – connect to the internet and the world around you, whether that’s other micro:bits, phones, cameras, or tablets to ‘code on the go’ or take selfies

• Five Input and Output rings – connect the micro:bit directly to other devices using crocodile clips or 4mm banana plugs, and send commands back and forth

Ralf Buehler, SVP Sales and Marketing for Premier Farnell, said: “The BBC micro:bit project was a milestone event in the world of STEM education and computer programming in the UK – and we are delighted to make it available to buy through element14 in Japan. As the Development Distributor, we are committed to helping develop the future of technology, whether that is supporting customers building products that can change the world for the better, or helping a teacher inspire their class to get into coding. The BBC micro:bit is a fantastic way to introduce students to coding – allowing hands-on application of technology in a way that can inspire our younger generations.”

The BBC micro:bit is available in a range of pack sizes from single BBC micro:bit and ‘micro:bit go’ packs which include a USB cable, battery holder & 2x AAA batteries along with a Quick Start Guide and four inspirational ideas to get started; to ‘Club’ packs of 10 and bulk boxes of 300.

The BBC micro:bit is available from element14. Visitors to the Tokyo Maker Faire can find out more at the Switch Science Booth (S-08-03 )

element14, part of Premier Farnell, is now shipping the BBC Micro:bit coding device to customers in China. The BBC micro:bit was originally launched in the UK in March 2016 following an educational programme led by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), in partnership with a group of technology partners including ARM, Microsoft and Premier Farnell. Premier Farnell is the exclusive manufacturer of the BBC micro:bit, manufacturing the coding device through its Embest business in China and had since made the device available to purchase in Europe and North America.

Since launch in the UK there have been 13 million visits to the microbit.org website, nearly 10 million code simulator runs and 2 million compiles to devices. The use of the micro:bit in education is also delivering a positive change in attitudes towards STEM*.

• 39% of girls said that they would definitely choose ICT/computing compared to 23% before
• 86% said it made computer science more interesting
• 88% said it showed that coding isn’t as hard as they thought

Measuring only 4cm by 5cm, the BBC micro:bit is a hands-on, easy-to-use introduction to the world of technology and is packed with features that provide endless possibilities for creativity. The device is supported by a website, www.microbit.org that features a range of resources and tutorials to help users take advantage of the micro:bit’s vast potential.

The micro:bit includes:

• 25 red LEDs – light them up, flash messages, create games, and invent digital stories

• Two programmable buttons – associate them with an action and interact with your projects

• On-board motion detector – just like a smartphone; the micro:bit can react to shakes, tilts, and even drops

• A built-in compass – sense which direction you’re facing and your movement in degrees

• Bluetooth Smart Technology and Low Energy – connect to the internet and the world around you, whether that’s other micro:bits, phones, cameras, or tablets to ‘code on the go’ or take selfies

• Five Input and Output rings – connect the micro:bit directly to other devices using crocodile clips or 4mm banana plugs, and send commands back and forth

Ralf Buehler, SVP Sales and Marketing for Premier Farnell, said: “The BBC micro:bit project was a milestone event in the world of STEM education and computer programming in the UK – and we are delighted to make it available to buy through element14 in China. We are committed to helping develop the future of technology, whether that is supporting customers building products that can change the world for the better, or helping a teacher inspire their class to get into coding. The BBC micro:bit is a fantastic way to introduce students to coding – allowing hands-on application of technology in a way that can inspire our younger generations.”

The BBC micro:bit is available in a range of pack sizes from single BBC micro:bit and ‘micro:bit go’ packs which include a USB cable, battery holder & 2x AAA batteries along with a Quick Start Guide and four inspirational ideas to get started; to ‘Club’ packs of 10 and bulk boxes of 300.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has made the BBC Micro:bit available to buy in North America through Newark element14 and MCM Electronics.

The micro:bit was originally launched in the UK in March 2016 following an educational programme led by the BBC, in partnership with a group of technology partners including ARM, Microsoft and Premier Farnell. The programme included the gifting of one million micro:bits to support digital learning in schools. Premier Farnell are the exclusive manufacturer of the micro:bit and distribute the device through Farnell element14, CPC and a network of resellers in Europe.

Measuring only 4cm by 5cm, the micro:bit is a hands-on, easy-to-use introduction to the world of technology and is packed with features that provide endless possibilities for creativity. The device is supported by a website, www.microbit.org that features a range of resources and tutorials to help users take advantage of the micro:bit’s vast potential.

The micro:bit includes:

• 25 red LEDs – light them up, flash messages, create games, and invent digital stories

• Two programmable buttons – associate them with an action and interact with your projects

• On-board motion detector – just like a smartphone; the micro:bit can react to shakes, tilts, and even drops

• A built-in compass – sense which direction you’re facing and your movement in degrees

• Bluetooth Smart Technology and Low Energy – connect to the internet and the world around you, whether that’s other micro:bits, phones, cameras, or tablets to ‘code on the go’ or take selfies

• Five Input and Output rings – connect the micro:bit directly to other devices using crocodile clips or 4mm banana plugs, and send commands back and forth

Ralf Buehler, SVP Sales and Marketing for Premier Farnell, said:  “The BBC micro:bit project was a milestone event in the world of STEM education and computer programming in the UK – and we are delighted to make it available to buy through Newark element14 and MCM electronics. As the Development Distributor, we are committed to helping develop the future of technology, whether that is supporting customers building products that can change the world for the better, or helping a teacher inspire their class to get into coding. The micro:bit is a fantastic way to introduce students to coding – allowing hands-on application of technology in a way that can inspire our younger generations.”

Hal Speed, Head of North America for the Micro:bit Educational Foundation said: "Premier Farnell is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of single-board computers, and we're delighted that the micro:bit is now available for sale in the U.S. and Canada. Premier Farnell is a vital partner to make the micro:bit available to schools, clubs and families across North America so that every student has the opportunity to learn the foundational skills of computer science in elementary and middle school."

The micro:bit is available in a range of pack sizes from single micro:bit and ‘micro:bit go’ packs which include a USB cable, battery holder & 2x AAA batteries along with a Quick Start Guide and four inspirational ideas to get started; to ‘Club’ packs of 10 and bulk boxes of 300.

The micro:bit will be available to demo at ISTE in San Antonio, on June 25-28, 2017 – visit stand 3241.

Farnell element14, the Development Distributor, has made the BBC Micro:bit available for sale across Europe. The BBC micro:bit is a hands-on, easy-to-use introduction to the world of technology and is packed with features that provide endless possibilities for creativity. The device is supported by a website, www.microbit.org that features a range of resources and tutorials to help users take advantage of the BBC micro:bit’s vast potential.

In response to an unprecedented demand following the gifting of one million BBC micro:bits to schools across the UK, Farnell element14 has broadened availability of the BBC micro:bit to resellers across Europe. The BBC Micro:bit is now available to buy in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

To find a reseller and learn more about the BBC Micro:bit visit the element14 community.

element14, the Development Distributor, and The Micro:bit Foundation have signed an exclusive global manufacturing and distribution agreement for the BBC Micro:bit. This agreement follows the success of the educational programme led by the BBC in 2016 where one million micro:bits were gifted to support learning in school.

The BBC micro:bit is a hands-on, easy-to-use introduction to the world of technology and is packed with features that provide endless possibilities for creativity. The device is supported by a website, www.microbit.org that features a range of resources and tutorials to help users take advantage of the BBC micro:bit’s vast potential.

The agreement allows element14 to develop partnerships with educational organisations to replicate the success of the UK programme globally, supporting the development of the next generation of engineers through engagement in coding from a young age.

Richard Curtin, Senior Director of Strategic Alliances for element14, said: “The BBC micro:bit initiative will go down in history as a milestone event in the world of STEM education and computer programming in the UK. Already the BBC micro:bit web site has seen over 15 million views, the code simulator has been run 10.8 million times and the complier 2 million times.

“element14 is excited to have signed this global agreement with the recently formed Micro:bit Foundation enabling the replication of this ground breaking education solution for educational organisations around the world.”

In line with this new agreement and in response to unprecedented demand across Europe following the UK programme, element14 is now making stock of BBC micro:bits available to resellers in a number of key European countries. Educational organisations and individuals will be able to purchase the BBC micro:bit from resellers in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands and Finland.

element14, The Development Distributor, is supporting the designers of today and the future with dedicated resources, initiatives, literature and product launches. element14 is the exclusive manufacturer of educational programming boards such as the BBC micro:bit and Codebug and is the official manufacturer of two of the most popular maker boards in the world, Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone Black.

With such a widely respected reputation in the Maker and Education sector, element14 focuses on promoting electrical engineering through their ongoing development of both educational and hobbyist products. To supplement learning and development, element14 provides guidance and support through online resources available from the STEM Academy and the widely used element14 forum which has over 440k members and is the largest forum of its kind in the engineering and maker community. As the Development Distributor, element14’s commitment to promoting electrical engineering is clear, introducing young people into the world of coding and enhancing the maker community through creating the latest development tools and software products.

Chris Breslin, Chief Product Officer said:

“To inspire and support designers of all ages and levels of experience, we are launching a new easy to use guide and online resource to help developers the world over select the best development boards for their projects.”

Global Head of Raspberry Pi & Single Board Computing, Claire Doyle added:

“This guide will showcase the features of a selection of development boards and provide application examples to inspire designers to create new projects, safe in the knowledge that element14 is on hand with support documentation and access to the community forum.”

During the four-day electronica show in Europe from 8-11^th November, element14 is presenting the ‘World of Electronics’ on their stand. The new development board guide will be launched on the 11^th November and will be available to visitors at the Maker and Education booth on the element14 stand and online at http://www.developmentboardselector.com. Stand visitors will also be able to get hands on with products, view demonstrations as well as see educational videos and have the chance to code and take home a Codebug.

Find out more about element14 at electronica at www.electronica.farnell.com/

The BBC micro:bit, a pocket-sized programmable device that can be coded and controlled to bring ideas, games, and projects to life, is being made available to buy in the UK by element14, manufacturing partner for the BBC micro:bit project. The widespread availability follows the gifting of the BBC micro:bit to up to one million school children in Year 7 (or equivalent) across the UK, to inspire them to get creative with coding, programming and digital technology.

The BBC micro:bit can be pre-ordered from element14, the Microsoft Store, Technology Will Save Us, Kitronic and Sciencescope and other resellers. Prices range from £12.99 for a single BBC micro:bit; £14.99 for the starter kit ‘BBC micro:bit Go’, which includes a BBC micro:bit, mini USB, battery pack and four project ideas to get users started; and £140.00 for a ‘BBC micro:bit Club’ pack, which includes 10 devices and everything needed to get a coding club started.

The BBC micro:bits will ship in July so children and parents can take advantage of the summer holidays to begin their journey into coding.

The BBC and partners launched the BBC micro:bit in March 2016, aiming to inspire a new generation of digital pioneers, and building on the ground-breaking role of the BBC Micro, which helped introduce the nation to computing in the 1980s.

Measuring only 4cm by 5cm, and available in four colours, the BBC micro:bit has been designed to be a fun and easy-to-use introduction to the world of technology and is packed with features that provide endless possibilities for creativity:

• 25 red LEDs – light them up, flash messages, create games, and invent digital stories

• Two programmable buttons – associate them with an action and interact with your projects

• On-board motion detector – just like a smartphone; the BBC micro:bit can react to shakes, tilts, and even drops

• A built-in compass – sense which direction you’re facing and your movement in degrees

• Bluetooth Smart Technology and Low Energy – connect to the internet and the world around you, whether that’s other BBC micro:bits, phones, cameras, or tablets to ‘code on the go’ or take selfies

• Five Input and Output rings – connect the BBC micro:bit directly to other devices using crocodile clips or 4mm banana plugs, and send commands back and forth

The device is supported by a website, www.microbit.co.uk, that features a range of resources and tutorials to help teachers, parents and students take advantage of the BBC micro:bit’s vast potential. The BBC micro:bit can also be coded direct from your smartphone, with apps available for Android and iOS designed by Samsung and ScienceScope respectively.

The BBC micro:bit can be used in conjunction with other single board computers to increase potential applications and expand opportunities, for example utilising the bluetooth technology within the BBC micro:bit to create a tiny, handheld remote control for games or vehicles built on your Raspberry Pi, Beaglebone Black or Arduino board.

The element14 community provides additional support, including projects for the BBC micro:bit, in a community forum where you can ask questions and seek advice from its 400,000 engineer members. Find out more by visiting www.element14.com/microbit.

Further media assets can be found here

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