micro:bit camera (Say Code!)

Prerequisites

• The educator should have some knowledge of micro:bit.
• Learners should have some previous experiences with coding (Scratch or Blockly).

Technology

• micro:bit (one per learner)
• iPad with ‘micro:bit app’ installed (one per learner)
• Camera with self-timer

Before the lesson...

• Review key coding concepts and ensure you are confident describing them to your group
• Pair micro:bit with iPad using these instructions
  • Follow the steps in this Cytrontech video to test out the camera-control code. It is essential to get this working before your class! It will save you a lot of troubleshooting time.
• Download, import, and review the example project
• Print the solution sheet for the activity

This lesson is based on Element14.Com micro:bit tutorials.

Icebreaker

Ask the learners to sit in a circle.

Say: “For this icebreaker, we are going to play a modified game of hot potato using a camera. To play this game, we will pass the camera around the circle. When you have the camera, you hold it as if you were about to take a selfie! Don’t forget to make a silly face! I will be setting a self-timer on the camera and if it goes off during your “selfie” time, you are out! We will continue until one person remains: the selfie champion!”

Set the self-timer on your camera to initiate the game.

After the game and depending on comfort levels, share the photos with your group for a good laugh!

Say: “Today, we are going to use code to turn our micro:bits into cameras with timers, just like the one we used in our icebreaker!”

Code-Along

1. Go to makecode.microbit.org and select ‘New Project’.
2. Point out the main elements: micro:bit simulator, block categories, blocks, block area, etc.
3. Give learners a few minutes to explore the editor.
4. Go through 1-2 challenges with the group, where learners are asked to try to make their micro:bit simulator do something. For example, “Try to display a smiley face on the LEDs forever” or “Try to make the micro:bit simulator play a song when a button is pressed”

Activity

Show the example project, so learners know what they are working towards. Ask them what they see - what is happening in this project? How do we make these things happen?

Use the solution sheet to guide learners through the following steps:

1. Adding a countdown/timer
2. Adding the ‘Device’ extension
3. Taking a photo

Reflection

Have learners Think-Pair-Share the following questions:

• How did we use [coding concept] in our project?
• What is one thing you liked about this lesson? Why?
• What is one thing that challenged you in this lesson? Why?
• What is one thing you learned? How will you use this knowledge in the future?

Learning Outcomes

I can create algorithms using the MakeCode editor
I can use events to control when things happen in my project
I can use variables to store information about my project
I can use loops to make things happen more than once
I can order blocks of code to make things happen in a specific sequence
I can interact with my camera

Assessment Ideas

Have learners write simple instructions on how to program a micro:bit. Assess their ability to recall events, sequence activities/steps, check for grammar and spelling.

Coding

• Ask learners to explore the camera function. What else can they do with this function?
• Given that they now know how to code a countdown, have learners consider what other projects they could build that incorporate a countdown function.

Math

Make connections to math and photography/smartphone technology (*Note: these articles may be a bit advanced from younger students but they will promote class discussion):

• How is Math Used in Photography? (pixobo.com, 2020)
• Using smartphone cameras to solve math problems: Microsoft's camera-based AI app solves your math problems (thenextweb.com, 2019)

Science

Light science videos:

• How do cameras work? (funkidslive.com)
• Simple Explanation of how a Camera Works (video 4 min)
• Discussion: How have cameras changed? Why do technologies change? What do you think cameras of the future might look like?

Art

Learners can design their own micro:bit camera case.

Best Party Games: Camera Game
http://www.bestpartygames.co.uk/games/camera-game#.Xoeu1dP0lBw

MakeCode Reference Guide:
https://makecode.microbit.org/reference

The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide (2018) by Garteth Halfacree

micro:bit Tutorial Series Part 1: Getting Started
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_AapxVudM

Micro:bit Educational Foundation - Pairing and Flashing in iOS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uFuW8kA_lw&feature=emb_title

Cytrontech - Take A Selfie Using Microbit As A Remote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV7aKbs2-wI

Element14.Com micro:bit tutorials
https://www.element14.com/community/community/stem-academy/microbit/blog/2016/06/09/10-bbc-microbit-projects-in-10-days-day-four-camera-time

How is Math Used in Photography?
https://www.pixobo.com/how-is-math-used-in-photography/

Using smartphone cameras to solve math problems: Microsoft's camera-based AI app solves your math problems
https://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2020/01/16/microsofts-camera-based-ai-app-solves-your-math-problems/

How do cameras work? (funkidslive.com)
https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/techno-mum/cameras/#

Simple Explanation of how a Camera Works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNA97LaWLF0&feature=youtu.be

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