Advanced physical computing jam
TBGS Charitable Trust
Beschreibung
Advanced physical computing jam – engaging two groups of Year 8 students in using hands-on programmable hardware (BBC microbit v2) in two workshops. Through these devices interacting with the real world through a variety of sensors as well as user inputs, students learn and build better understanding of how programming works with the hardware as well as machine learning within an AI model. Programming fundamentals are re-visited: variables, conditionals, events and loops; designing systems rather than isolated tasks; integrating sensors, such as accelerometer, touch sensor; designing user-friendly interfaces delving into some key principles of human-computer interactions; data-handling and interpretation through combining inputs to make decisions as well as basic networking and communication through radio signals.
The workshop is aimed at two groups of Year 8 students, which will consist of some guided mini-projects which will form an introduction (Clap-controlled LED meter, Reaction timer game and Wireless buzzer), followed by structured and staged hands-on and challenging projects throughout. Students will work collaboratively, in pairs, and use BBC microbit v2 to explore further designing and building functional interactive systems through logical reasoning, problem-solving and providing programming solutions. Main project ideas are presented on project idea cards which provides scaffolding and will offer the following ideas: wireless quiz buzzer system; lie detector simulator; encrypted messaging system; interactive digital pet with behaviour system; flight simulator (pilot training) using tilt control and real-time feedback. Students will follow an iterative design through testing, refining and improving systems.
The main challenge part will be concluded with a showcase and peer review where students explain what their system does and what makes it ‘smart’ – with votes for the most intelligent system; best design; most fun to use and most technically impressive.
In summary, the workshop is aimed to further develop higher-order computation thinking skills as well as deeper understanding of these concepts through encouraging students to creatively design and build systems they can interact with. Through the project, we want to promote problem-solving, debugging and resilience and greater independence. The workshop offers ideas integrating real-world concepts, such as simulation, communication, systems life cycle through open-ended challenges.
The workshop is aimed at two groups of Year 8 students, which will consist of some guided mini-projects which will form an introduction (Clap-controlled LED meter, Reaction timer game and Wireless buzzer), followed by structured and staged hands-on and challenging projects throughout. Students will work collaboratively, in pairs, and use BBC microbit v2 to explore further designing and building functional interactive systems through logical reasoning, problem-solving and providing programming solutions. Main project ideas are presented on project idea cards which provides scaffolding and will offer the following ideas: wireless quiz buzzer system; lie detector simulator; encrypted messaging system; interactive digital pet with behaviour system; flight simulator (pilot training) using tilt control and real-time feedback. Students will follow an iterative design through testing, refining and improving systems.
The main challenge part will be concluded with a showcase and peer review where students explain what their system does and what makes it ‘smart’ – with votes for the most intelligent system; best design; most fun to use and most technically impressive.
In summary, the workshop is aimed to further develop higher-order computation thinking skills as well as deeper understanding of these concepts through encouraging students to creatively design and build systems they can interact with. Through the project, we want to promote problem-solving, debugging and resilience and greater independence. The workshop offers ideas integrating real-world concepts, such as simulation, communication, systems life cycle through open-ended challenges.
Veranstaltungsort
Altersgruppe
12 - 13
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Typ Offline-Event
Datum 20.10.2026 09:00 - 13:00
20.10.2026 09:00 - 13:00
Adresse
Max. Teilnehmerzahl 60
Ihr möchtet am Event teilnehmen? Dann kontaktiert bitte den unten genannten Ansprechpartner.
Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos.
Kontakt TBGS Charitable Trust
Website: TBGS.co.uk
E-Mail des Ansprechpartners: vmedway@tbgs.torbay.sch.uk
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Schwierigkeitsgrad
Typ Offline-Event
Datum 20.10.2026 09:00 - 13:00
20.10.2026 09:00 - 13:00
Adresse
Max. Teilnehmerzahl 60
Ihr möchtet am Event teilnehmen? Dann kontaktiert bitte den unten genannten Ansprechpartner.Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos.
Kontakt TBGS Charitable Trust
Website: TBGS.co.ukE-Mail des Ansprechpartners: vmedway@tbgs.torbay.sch.uk
Auf Social Media teilen
