Samsung, Microsoft, ARM and the people behind Raspberry Pi are collaborating with publicly-funded UK broadcaster the BBC on the Micro Dot device.
The UK’s 11-year-olds will be issued with a basic computer by publicly-funded broadcaster the BBC this year, to encourage them to get into coding.
The simple Micro Bit computer will be given to 1 million children starting UK secondary school in this coming autumn term. Coding has been on the school curriculum in Britain since last year as part of a move to give kids a foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. In secondary school, children learn two or more programming languages as well as related subjects like Internet safety.
Described as a “small, wearable… entry-level coding device”, the Micro Bit is designed so children “pick it up, plug it into a computer and start creating with it immediately”. The BBC has worked on the Micro Bit with various tech companies including Samsung, Microsoft, ARM, Barclays and the people behind Raspberry Pi.
