Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1501483
42 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2023 I recently learned about the micro:bit pro- gramming tool, and an important initiative in the UK to teach coding to young students. It made such an impression on me that I pur- chased the training set, went through the tuto- rial and plan to send it to my 10-year-old grand- son. He told me he's already eager to start. First, I showed it to my son and asked him to start learning to use it so he can help his son if he has any questions. It's about $18 to get the complete system, so it's not too expensive and I hope to see it spread more widely in the United States. e micro:bit tool is exceptionally well- designed to appeal to students and allow them to create items they want without the need to purchase any other items. With Bluetooth and wireless radio built in, it offers network-build- ing from a battery-powered device that could also be a piece of jewelry. But how did this get started? A New Initiative In 2015, the BBC launched the Make It Dig- ital initiative 1 , aiming to inspire a new era of creativity using programming and digital tech- nology. Simultaneously, the initiative would support the UK's mandate to teach computer science concepts at all grade levels. e BBC micro:bit evolved from that initiative. It is a small programmable and embeddable com- puter that is designed, developed, and deployed Teaching Coding to Kids: The UK's Micro:bit Tool Happy's Tech Talk #20 by Happy Holden, I-CONNECT007