I missed these when JLCPCB announced it - so as I'm late to the party, would love to see creative and beautiful PCBs people have made with it (or similar services) jlcpcb.com/blog/multi-c...

There are fun days at work, then there are "building a magic-wand controlled pumpkin" days at work :D

The 'images' section in 'advanced' has a neat `show image` block.
#MakeCode has a built-in 400ms delay in `basic➡️show leds` and `show icon`, but it's configurable with `images➡️show image`. Plus images can be in arrays... enough to make your heart beat faster.
#microbit #faveblocks #TeamCompSci

I think my favourite change in the 2024 #MakeCode release for #microbit is one of the tiniest: make the border colour lighter/stand-out when blocks of the same colour are nested. Makes reading complex block maths so much easier 😃. All the changes at makecode.com/blog/microbi... #TeamCompSci

Any folks in #TeamCompSci tried using the #microbit
Python Editor for more general #Python teaching, rather than "micro:bit first" stuff? With the simulator and the REPL you've got a browser-based REPL and some interesting possible inputs. Works with micro:bit Classroom too.

This week, a more playful one for the #microbit #faveblocks: I love the "free fall" gesture (click on 'shake' dropdown). This micro:bit is deploying an umbrella as a parachute when it is falling ☂️🪂. (Under the hood this just checks the magnitude of acceleration is below a threshold.) #TeamCompSci

This week, `map`: Great for scaling physical input into the right ranges for micro:bit output - here's a super simple spirit level. Ideal if the maths/scaling part might be a distraction from the lesson and you want to focus more on the making or the output. #microbit #faveblocks.

You can swap in the function used to play 'tones' in #MakeCode for #microbit! Replace those robotic tones - your ears will thank you. The API is in Javascript, so I've exposed it in my (personal) pxt-musichelpers extension: github.com/jaustin/pxt-... eg makecode.microbit.org/_RMjhmMh2zTyq

The #clickskeyboard superpower I haven't heard mentioned yet is that if you swap "Globe" for "Control" you can use Ctrl+f/b/n/p for moving the cursor forward, backwards, down and up. Also a whole range of other useful shortcuts support.apple.com/en-gb/102650... - Ctrl+D for delete (not backspace)

Here's an awesome thing from the desk of fediscience.org/@johnvidler - we've been working on improving accessibility of micro:bit in both hw and sw. This prototype add-on is one avenue. Please shout if you'd like to test it or know people who will be able to - johnvidler.co.uk/blog/the-acc...

Today I'm prepping for our #emfcamp workshop - trying to decide which messages birds might send to each other ("cat!", "hawk!") and how many pipe cleaners 30 children need to make birds! www.emfcamp.org/schedule/202... for the curious :D

🚀🔭One of these boxes on SpaceX-29 contained a micro:bit! It's going to spend some time on the ISS with Andreas Mogensens www.dr.dk/skole/ultrab... as part of the DR ultra:bit project!

Also had these things we called "ears" next to the buttons that let you connect jumper wires directly to the micro:bit. Super useful for prototyping. Also nice for connecting boards together!

Dug out the old micro:bit V2 prototypes that had been buried since we packed the office up for COVID. I think my favourite thing about this particular board is the experiment to use the piezo speaker 'in reverse' as a cheaper alternative to a MEMS microphone.

Here's how those "ears" (little holes by the buttons) 'worked'. It was a fun experiment - would like to try on future boards!

Here's the very first micro:bit V2 prototype. It's from Jan 2017 (!) and had loads of things we chose not to ship in the end, like R/G LEDs, "ears" next to the buttons for connecting other boards or cheaply connecting jumper cables. It also had an attempt to use the piezo speaker as a microphone.