Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A prototype photo of the Micro Bit, which will be given to every 11-year-old child in the UK. BBC

The BBC will give every 11-year-old in the UK this coding device

More than one million devices will be handed out in an attempt to address a “major skills shortage” in the UK.

THE BBC HAS launched a project which will see every 11-year-old in the UK receive a small coding device for free.

The Micro Bit, which is based on the BBC Micro which appeared in UK classrooms back in the 80s, is a small, wearable device with an LED display, and is designed to help children learn basic coding and programming.

It’s a standalone, entry-level coding device designed to allow kids to pick up, plug into a computer and begin coding. More than one million devices will be distributed.

The aim is to help children grasp the concepts of technology and computing, which helps develop analytical and problem-solving strategies, and help “transform a generation from passive consumers of technology to creators and innovators in the digital world.”

The Micro Bit can communicate with other similar devices such as the Raspberry Pi, Arduino and other Micro Bit devices.

It will also see popular BBC shows like EastEnders and Doctor Who releasing new material focused on coding while a BBC Two drama based on Grand Theft Auto is also in the works.

The project is in response to what the BBC describe as a “significant skills shortage” in the UK.

The UK is facing a significant skills shortage with 1.4m digital professionals needed over the next five years. BBC Make it Digital will capture the spirit of the BBC Micro, which helped Britain get to grips with the first wave of personal computers in the 1980s, for the digital age. It will put digital creativity in the spotlight like never before, and help build the nation’s digital skills, through an ambitious range of new programmes, partnerships and projects.

The device is still in development but will be distributed across the UK in the autumn.

Read: Twitter has changed its rules to ban revenge porn >

Read: Apple had a bad Wednesday as its online stores spent eleven hours offline >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
45 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Groden
    Favourite James Groden
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 8:09 AM

    Let’s be honest, this site was among the worst at instilling fear and screaming for more severe lockdowns. It’s somewhat rich now to complain about people not doing a job that would have involved travelling around.

    163
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Laois Weather
    Favourite Laois Weather
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 10:36 AM

    @James Groden: The Spanish approach as mentioned in the article should have been used and used for everyone, not just election observers.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TG McMahon
    Favourite TG McMahon
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 7:23 AM

    Yes they might have caught a cold.

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justin Gillespie
    Favourite Justin Gillespie
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 7:10 AM

    Quiet news day to end all quiet new days.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran
    Favourite Ciaran
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 8:38 AM

    An article like this is only published to stir angry and serves no real purpose otherwise

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Crowley
    Favourite Declan Crowley
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 7:47 AM

    What a load of bs !!!

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carl Campbell
    Favourite Carl Campbell
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 9:37 AM

    Does anyone actually care.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BLD Games
    Favourite BLD Games
    Report
    May 29th 2023, 6:28 PM

    “election observer role” ???????? Whatever that’s about ??????

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds