From Australian personal computer magazine June 2021
The next generation will face many trials. The sooner we introduce them to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the better. Darren Yates suggests how. apcuk2106_article_100_01_01 You can even code a virtual Micro:bit board online for free.
If nothing else, the last year or so has shown just how much our world now relies on the STEM disciplines – the collective areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (remember, maths is the foundation of the other three). That’s why it’s so important to encourage the next generation to not just use technology, but understand how it works, so that they can solve tomorrow’s problems. If you’re looking for low-cost inspiration to get your kids into STEM, here’s where you can start.
If you’re thinking this is another ‘get into coding’ war-cry, it’s not. We’re way past that point. The speed at which our lives are transforming into the digital world means we are essentially left at the mercy of others if we don’t at least understand coding concepts. Now before the pitchforks fire up, I’m not saying every child needs to become a software engineer – but I am saying every child should at least experience STEM.
That said, while there’s no doubt that coding itself can be a pretty abstract concept, there is no field of human endeavour where it is not making an indelible impact. And that’s a key to building inspiration in STEM more broadly – keeping it real and practical.
The great thing about growing up in the 1980s was that home computers like the Commodore 64 weren’t just about playing cool games, you had access to code your own.
Sadly, consoles have long lost that capability, but there are plenty of excellent alternatives that are low cost, fun and very hands-on. Here are just two.
apcuk2106_article_100_01_02 The new pocket-sized Micro:bit v2 board now adds audio capability.
Back in the 1980s, the British Broadcasting Corporation (yep, that BBC) joined with Acorn Computers to create the ‘BBC Micro’ series of computers. They featured in many Australian secondary schools, including mine. (Acorn later joined with Apple and chipmaker VLSI Technology to create ARM, the designer of chips powering y our phone).
Today, the BBC continues to promote computer literacy through its pocket-sized ‘micro:bit’ microcontroller board. It plugs into any PC via USB and you can code it with a variety of programming languages. What makes it so great are the practical fun features it comes with – there’s a magnetometer (compass), an accelerometer (movement), pushbuttons and a 5×5 grid of LEDs. You even get Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Plus, the new version released late last year now adds a microphone and speaker.
You can buy a basic ‘micro:bit V2 go’ kit with battery pack, USB cable and micro:bit board for under $35 from many local on-line maker stores (make sure it’s version 2). There are also bulk packs (and pricing) especially for schools.
Make a compass, create music, code a door-bell, build a spirit-level, create hands-on games, control lights by speech, the list of things you can do with it is almost endless. Best of all, while Micro:bit has expansion options, the key features are built in, so you can just plug it into your PC’s USB port, making it suitable for kids as young as eight.
Micro:bit is brilliant as a first-stop, but when you’re ready to graduate, Arduino is an excellent stepping stone onto greater things. Full disclosure: I love Arduino. For years, we had a monthly Arduino column in APC making also sorts of gadgets, from robots to digital audio recorders, using the popular Arduino makerboards.
Think of Arduino as the computing ‘brains’ that allows you to control external sensors, motors and other components. For example, if an ultrasonic sensor detects an obstacle, you can change a motor’s rotation to change direction. Learn the basics of electronics, voltage and current-flow and you’ve got what I call ‘Lego-on-steroids’.
Arduino is programmed with a simplified version of the C++ programming language using the free Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) on any Windows, macOS or Linux PC. You can buy Arduino makerboards on Ebay for under $5 delivered.
Arduino does require some understanding of electronics as you’re now working with electronic components, but with so many add-on boards now available, it’s incredibly versatile. For example, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options abound, there are boards to drive motors and LEDs. Learn those electronics principles and the sky’s the limit (actually, these days, it’s not).
Just from my previous experience taking part in the CSIRO’s STEM Professionals In Schools program (www.csiro.au/en/education/ programs/stem-professionals-in-schools), the rate of change in STEM alone has placed an incredible burden on teachers, both primary and secondary. They deserve huge respect (and more resources). If you have STEM skills and time to spare, consider volunteering with CSIRO’s SPIS program.
From a teaching perspective, micro:bit is also a boon for its teaching resources. There are many class lesson plans (microbit.org/lessons) covering a huge array of areas from digital arts to geography, safety and security, electronics, music and more. Use them straight as-is or as the basis for your own ideas.
You don’t even need to have a micro:bit board to get started – there’s an excellent online micro:bit emulator at http:// makecode.microbit.org that lets you write and run code for a virtual on-screen micro:bit board in either Blocks or Javascript. Code you write for the emulator also runs on the real thing, so it’s a great introduction for students.
apcuk2106_article_100_01_03 The tiny Arduino Nano V3.0 makerboard sells for as little as $5 online.
The Raspberry Pi is awesome, but it’s a different beast. Being a full-blown single-board computer, it also needs separate power, keyboard, mouse, monitor, storage and operating system to get up and running. Arduino and Micro:bit obviously rely on having a computer system already, but being microcontrollers, they’re essentially single-function devices with fewer initial requirements. Plug them into USB, code them and away they go.
apcuk2106_article_100_01_04 My spare-parts robot design, ‘Rocket’, built using an Arduino Uno board.
Why ‘practical’ matters Learning to code with little or no obvious practical outcome can be boring. It’s also not what happens in the real world - coding is almost always part of a solution to a broader practical problem. Think COVID-19 and the race to create viable vaccines. Think cybersecurity that keeps your bank accounts safe, the lights on and the water running. Think agriculture and the need to grow food more efficiently, whether it’s creating farm robots or using machine-learning to boost Australia’s grain crops.
Learning to code is life-skill that will never go out of style but the growing need for new practical solutions for a range of problems means thinking more practically about learning to code is essential – for our generation and the next.