Fall in Love with micro:bit

Name: Fall in Love with micro:bit
ISBN: 9787115490643

梁森山 / 谢作如Posts & Telecom Press · ChinaDec 2021

4.0

Word count: 74K words
Chapters: 58
ISBN: 9787115490643

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Summary

micro:bit is a learning tool custom-built for education at this stage, with many advantages in helping teachers and students get started quickly. micro:bit is both a microcomputer capable of expressing creativity and a digital detection tool that supports scientific inquiry; it can not only drive carts and build robots, but also serve as an intelligent collection device to design cool interactive media works. This book is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the basic applications of micro:bit, programming micro:bit with graphical programming tools such as y, and also introduces how to combine with Scratch to write interesting interactive works. The second part introduces applications of micro:bit, such as programming with Arduino IDE, suitable for "nostalgic" makers; combining with Processing for interactive media, suitable for friends interested in technology and art; and programming with Python, suitable for high school teachers getting started, laying the foundation for teaching with new high school textbooks. The appendix section compiled in this book is also very worth [reading]:其一 is a reference for the functions of graphical programming modules;其二 is a selection of 10 interdisciplinary STEAM teaching cases;其三 is the basics of the Python language, introducing micro:bit's dedicated library functions. Anyone interested in maker education and STEAM education can read this book, whether elementary school students, middle school students, college students, or teachers and parents interested in maker activities. I hope this book can make you and me fall in love with micro:bit together!

Editor's review

Love micro:bit is an introductory and practical guide to micro:bit, the tiny programmable computer launched by the BBC. Published by Posts & Telecom Press and written by Liang Senshan, who has extensive hands-on experience in educational technology, the book systematically introduces micro:bit's hardware composition, development environment, and programming fundamentals. Through numerous fun, everyday project cases, it guides readers from scratch to master this highly educational open-source hardware platform.

From an editorial perspective, the book's core value lies in its clear learning path and practical, project-oriented approach. It does not stop at dry theoretical explanation but connects programming concepts with the physical world, letting learners understand code logic through intuitive experiences such as controlling LED matrices, detecting motion, and measuring temperature. The projects are designed with educational settings fully in mind, offering suitable entry points for both classroom teaching and home self-study.

Particularly noteworthy is the book's detailed coverage of both MakeCode graphical programming and Python text programming, spanning different cognitive stages from primary to secondary school. This step-by-step arrangement makes it suitable both as an introductory programming reader for young people and as an advanced reference for hobbyists with some background. The introductory chapters on the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence open up even broader technological horizons for readers.

Overall, this is a rigorously structured and solidly content-rich practical manual. It successfully transforms complex electronics and programming knowledge into operable, enjoyable creative activities, perfectly embodying the educational philosophy of "learning by doing." For anyone who wants to explore hardware programming and cultivate computational thinking, this book offers an excellent starting point.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Young beginners interested in hardware programming and the Internet of Things
Primary and secondary school IT or STEAM teachers seeking teaching resources
Parents hoping to introduce their children to programming and electronic making
Maker education enthusiasts looking for entry-level open-source hardware projects

Not a good fit for

Experienced engineers seeking in-depth study of microcontroller fundamentals or embedded systems development
Pure software developers looking for advanced algorithms or complex system design content

Reading tips

It is recommended to read the chapters in order and personally complete each example project to understand the interaction between hardware and software
While reading, compare MakeCode graphical programming with Python code implementations to appreciate the characteristics of different programming paradigms
After completing the basic projects, try to design your own creative work that solves a small real-life problem, drawing on the book's ideas

About the publisher

Posts & Telecom Press China · Founded in 1953

Posts & Telecom Press is known for its strengths in science and technology, computing, and information and communications titles, and has extended its publishing into photography, art, software learning, and inspirational growth, giving it a fairly diverse range. Its catalog includes computing and communications works such as Refactoring and Patterns (Revised Edition) and Huawei Switch Learning Guide (Second Edition), alongside bilingual collector's editions such as The Little Prince (Chinese-English-French illustrated collector's edition), The Great Gatsby, and Three Days to See. Beijing Ten Years: 1980-1990 and Ghost Blade: WLOP Personal Illustration Collection reflect its presence in photography and art. Its authors include Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Helen Keller, Joshua Kerievsky, Wang Da, Zhang Zhaozeng, and WLOP.

版权信息
内容提要
编委会
序1
序2
上篇基于MakeCode、Mixly、Scratch的图形化编程
1 初面micro:bit
1.1 开箱即用
1.2 发现U盘
1.3 Hello micro:bit
1.4 下载程序
1.5 学习资源
1.6 创客爸爸
1.7 再识micro:bit
2 Mixly米思齐
2.1 认识Mixly
2.2 多彩显示
2.3 玩转按钮
2.4 声音控制
2.5 感知世界
2.6 无线通信
2.7 文件处理
3 交互Scratch
3.1 初识Scratch
3.3 互动作品
4 盒子Robot
4.1 认识机器人
4.2 自制纸盒机器人
5 教学建议
5.1 bits游乐园
5.2 信息通信实验
下篇基于Arduino、 Processing、Python的STEAM项目学习
6 携手Arduino
6.1 环境搭建
6.2 管理库文件
6.3 从点到屏·输出
6.4 传感器·输入
6.5 蓝牙通信
6.6 Blynk物联网
7 Processing互动
7.1 Processing简介
7.2 准备工作
7.3 互动作品
8 我用Python
8.1 从Python
8.2 到MicroPython
8.3 再到micro:bit
8.4 环境搭建
8.5 试一试
8.6 练一练
8.7 玩一玩
9 STEAM教学案例
9.1 瞬时速度
9.2 听到超声波
9.3 失重与超重
9.4 单摆周期
附录A 10 个跨学科STEAM教学案例
附录B Python语言基础

FAQ

Can I understand this book with no programming or electronics background?

Absolutely. The book is designed for zero-foundation readers, starting with an unboxing introduction to micro:bit and development environment setup, in accessible language with detailed steps. Graphical programming blocks lower the entry barrier, letting readers quickly gain a sense of achievement and gradually build confidence.

What programming languages does this book mainly use?

The book focuses on two programming environments: first, the block-based graphical programming provided by Microsoft MakeCode, which is intuitive and easy to start with; second, Python, a widely used high-level text programming language today. Both are clearly explained, and readers can choose one or combine them according to their situation.

What level can I reach after finishing this book?

After finishing the book, you will be able to independently use micro:bit to complete a variety of interactive projects involving display, sensing, communication, and control, understand the basic logic of hardware programming, and be able to turn ideas into working prototypes. This lays a solid practical foundation for subsequently learning more complex microcontrollers (such as Arduino and ESP32) or deepening your Python programming.

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About the author

梁森山 Author

Liang Senshan is a Chinese book author about whom limited public information is available; his nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly documented. Judging from the three works held in the library, his writing centers on maker education and technology education. His representative works include Falling in Love with micro:bit, The Blue Book of Chinese Maker Education (Basic Education Edition), and The Blue Book of 3D Education. These works span general computing, education, and industrial technology, and include both introductory reading for learners and report-style overviews aimed at the basic education field. Overall, his writing emphasizes bringing emerging technologies into teaching contexts and focuses on how maker culture, open-source hardware, and three-dimensional technology can be applied in education. His approach is practical and addresses teachers, students, and educational practitioners. Because public information is limited, a full picture of his personal experience and body of work remains difficult to present.

谢作如 Author

Xie Zuoru is a Chinese author focused on programming and maker education for young learners. Public information about him is limited, and no systematic account of his biography is available. Judging from the four works held in the collection, his writing centers on introductory Arduino hardware and project-based learning, covering beginner-oriented programming tools and platforms such as micro:bit, ArduBlock, and Mixly, with subjects falling under computer fundamentals, artificial intelligence, and programming design. His books typically follow an "introduction" or "project-based learning" approach, emphasizing hands-on practice and step-by-step progression, breaking robot building and creative making into workable steps for school students and readers new to open-source hardware. Overall, his writing stresses practical teaching value and readability, giving his maker and programming primers a distinctly practice-oriented style.