This document discusses the importance of using physical computing technologies in primary classrooms. It outlines six technologies that are appropriate for key stage 2 students aged 7-11: Crumble, Micro:bit, Codebug, Raspberry Pi, FlowGo/GoControl, and Lego WeDo 2.0. These were chosen for being open-ended, affordable, and extensible with other equipment. Using these technologies allows students to further develop programming concepts, solve real-world problems, and engage all students, especially girls. Barriers to implementation like time, cost of kits, and teacher expertise can be overcome through cross-curricular links, sharing resources, and hands-on guidance.

1. Using physical computing in the primary classroom
Neil Rickus
Senior Lecturer in Computing Education, University of Hertfordshire
@computingchamps
computingchampions.co.uk/serbia2017

3. Next 30 minutes
• Outline the importance of physical computing
• Discuss and demonstrate six physical computing
technologies
– Linked to projects undertaken in the primary classroom
• Highlight how to overcome barriers to implementation

5. Why physical computing?
• Opportunity to further develop understanding of
programming concepts
• “Light bulb” moment!
• Links to other areas of the curriculum
– Science and DT, but many others
• Solve real world problems
– Not just “making a game today”
– Engaging to girls – casinclude.org.uk

8. Technologies chosen (KS2 – age 7 – 11 years)
• Crumble
• Micro:bit
• Codebug
• Raspberry Pi
• FlowGo / GoControl
• Lego WeDo 2.0
• Sphero

10. Why these technologies?
• Open ended tasks
– Creativity
– Enquiry
• (Mostly) affordable
• Extended with existing equipment
– LEDs, buzzers, crocodile clips, etc
• Block based programming environment

12. Crumble
• Cost – £12 board; £20 starter kit
• More info – code-it.co.uk/crumble/crumble
• Projects
– Crumbs
– Crumblebot

14. Micro:bit
• Cost – £13 board; £16 starter kit
• More info – microbit.org
• Projects
– Step counter
– Table football
– Bloodhound Rocketcar

16. Codebug
• Cost – £15 board and USB cable
• More info – bit.ly/Xmasstuff
• Projects
– Scrolling display badge
– Christmas tree lights

18. Raspberry Pi
• Cost – £25 - £30 board (NB. Needs power supply, monitor
cable, etc)
• More info – raspberrypi.org
• Projects
– Pibrella
– PiStop
– CamJam EduKits

20. Lego WeDo 2.0
• Cost – £130 core set and software
• More info – education.lego.com/wedo2.0
• Projects
– Milo – moon rover

22. Flow Go and Go Control / Flowol
• Cost – £100 control box; £150 software site license
• More info – bit.ly/flowgo_gocontrol
• Projects
– Fairground rides
– Traffic lights

25. Sphero
• Cost – £100 ball and charger
• More info – sphero.com
• Projects
– Assault course

28. Making a robot…
• Program LED = program motor = make a robot
• Program sensor = react to events = “intelligence”

30. Barriers
• Time
– Cross-curricular links; Digital Leaders
• Kit
– Beg, borrow, steal; Second-hand; Share; Promotions
• Expertise
– Needs confident teachers; Digital Leader support;
CAS support; ”Hands-off guidance”

32. Competitions
• TeenTech
• PA Consulting Raspberry Pi
• Nesta / IBM Longitude Explorer Prize (IoT)
• Constructionism
– Audience = Quality enhancement
• Funding
• CV / exposure

33. Want to know more?
• TES EdTech special
– digital.tes.com/EDTECHJAN17/ (pg. 44)
• Hello World
– helloworld.cc (pg. 16)

34. Neil Rickus
Senior Lecturer in Computing Education,
University of Hertfordshire
@computingchamps
computingchampions.co.uk/serbia2017
TES EdTech special
digital.tes.com/EDTECHJAN17/ (pg. 44)
Hello World
helloworld.cc (pg. 16)