micro bit A market analysis What is micro

micro: bit A market analysis

What is micro: bit? The BBC micro: bit is a handheld, programmable micro-computer that can be used for all sorts of cool creations, from robots to musical instruments – the possibilities are endless. Source meet micro: bit

What market gap does micro: bit address? ● The need for effective STEM in elementary and secondary schools ● The need to close the gender gap in STEM ● The need to make STEM inclusive and accessible to all

What is the original value? Social Value micro: bit can potentially improve student and teacher attitudes toward coding, including levels of confidence, motivation, and enjoyment. micro: bit can potentially decrease the gender gap in STEM (coding) and make STEM (coding) more accessible to underprivileged or underrepresented learners. micro: bit can potentially introduce elementary and secondary students to coding.

The need for STEM “In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, the American Dream “. . . nothing embodies it's more important than everso that our nation's much as the opportunity to change or youth are prepared to bring knowledge andthe skills to with even reinvent world solve problems, make sense of information, and technology. ”OPEN LETTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE know how to gather and evaluate evidence to “Now more ever the innovation make decisions. are the of capacity skills that “We arethan also. These committed tokinds strengthening science, technology students develop in science, technology, of the United States—and its prosperity and innovation. Information and communication technologies engineering and math—disciplines collectively security—depends on an effective and (ICTs) must be harnessed to strengthen education systems, known as STEM. ” knowledge information access, quality and inclusive STEMdissemination, education ecosystem. ” US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CHARTING A COURSElearning, FOR SUCCESS: AMERICA’S FORservice STEM effective and more. STRATEGY effective provision. ” EDUCATION 2030 FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION, UNESCO

How does micro: bit help? The Micro: bit Educational Foundation’s Mission Statement: ● We enable and inspire all children to participate in the digital world, with particular focus on girls and those from disadvantaged groups. ● We make micro: bit the easiest and most effective learning tool for digital skills and creativity. ● We work in collaboration with educators to create and curate exceptional curriculum materials, training programmes and resources. ● We build and support communities of educators and partners to remove the barriers to learning digital skills

Does micro: bit improve STEM learning? An impact study found that: ● ● “. . . three-quarters of U. S. schools do not offer meaningful computer science courses. ” ● ● OPEN LETTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE ● 90% of students said the micro: bit showed them that anyone can code. 86% of students said the micro: bit made Computer Science more interesting. 70% more girls said they would choose Computing as a school subject after using the micro: bit. 85% of teachers agree it has made ICT/Computer Science more enjoyable for their students. Half of teachers who’ve used the micro: bit say they now feel more confident as a teacher, particularly those who say they’re not very confident in teaching Computing. ACADEMIC RESEARCH INTO THE MICRO: BIT

Does micro: bit improve STEM learning? “. . . only available to the lucky few, leaving most students behind, particularly students of color and girls. ” OPEN LETTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE “Our mission is to inspire children for their future. We’d like to reach 1. 8 million kids worldwide, especially those who don’t have access to computing, whether they’re in rural Virginia, Scotland, or Southeast Asia. We’re helping to get the skills into those hands via donation programs for Syrian refugees in Greece, and at after-school programs in Bangladesh, for example. ” Kavita Kapoor, COO micro: bit SOURCE

Does micro: bit improve STEM learning? “Too many girls and women are held back by biases…They are particularly under-represented in [STEM] education, and consequently in STEM careers. ” UNESCO, Girls’ and women’s education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) “I’m also very keen to promote diversity within the tech industry: the micro: bit has been shown to develop girls’ interest in ICT-related careers, so I’m hoping to inspire more young women to become part of the next generation of digital pioneers. ” Kavita Kapoor, COO micro: bit SOURCE

Does micro: bit help make STEM more inclusive and accessible? micro: bit works with partners around the globe engaging girls and under-served populations in the world of coding. Some outreach initiatives include: ● coding for refugees ● #Girls. Making. Tech ● coding for women and children’s association ● coding for orphan girls ● coding for under-served children ● coding in Sri Lanka ● coding in rural China ● coding in Bangladesh

What is the market focus? micro: bit is a not for profit organization. micro: bit aims to “enable and inspire all children to participate in the digital world”, especially girls and disadvantaged populations. SOURCE As such, the primary market is K-12 public and private schools, as well as ‘out-of-school’ groups, charities, NGOs, and community associations that work with children.

Type of Offering? Although micro: bit supports an online community of learners and a depository of learning materials, curriculum, and plans, the main offering is a piece of a hardware- a small, programmable microcomputer. The microcomputer (micro: bit) has: ● 25 programmable LED lights ● light sensor ● motion sensor ● wireless (bluetooth/radio) ● heat sensor ● USB interface

Who is the buyer? Learning bought for learner: micro: bit is available at the school level and may be purchased by the school, teacher, or ICT department for the learners. Learning bought centrally: As developed countries emphasize the need for STEM education, micro: bit could be marketed on a provincial, state, or school district level. Learning bought nationally: As stated in the mission statement and reiterated by the COO, micro: bit aims to expand globally into developing countries. As such, it may be bought nationally or in coordination with governmental and non-governmental organizations.

What is the global target? micro: bit has a diverse global target. There have been successful initiatives in developed and developing areas, making coding accessible and meaningful to diverse populations in diverse economies and geographies. As part of BBC’s Make it Digital initiative, micro: bits were delivered enmasse to year 7 & 8 students in UK. Students and teachers report positive impact on attitudes towards coding such as improved confidence, motivation, and enjoyment. Other wired Anglophone countries could potentially gain original value by improving these attitudes toward STEM (coding). micro: bit has also been involved in programs in less-developed areas such as Bangladesh, rural China, and India in an effort to bring coding to a diverse group of learners. This shows that micro: bit is also adaptable for use in less wired countries with diverse languages. micro: bit has shown adaptability in reaching markets that might not readily have access to, or be able to support, other learning technologies.

Does micro: bit have competition? micro: bit is not alone in the quest to make coding more accessible to elementary and secondary students and there are other ventures targeting the same learners, Scratch and Dash & Dot to name a few.

Does micro: bit have competition? However, as a not-for-profit venture, micro: bit integrates well with other existing learning technologies and has engaged other ventures in the field of coding in collaborative endeavours. Combining micro: bit and Scratch to experience the physical and digital aspects of coding.

What about the micro: bit team? The Micro Bit Foundation was originally founded by Zach Shelby in 2016 to build upon the success of the original BBC Learning micro: bit and make it available to a wider audience. In 2018, Gareth Stockdale succeeded Shelby as CEO of The Micro Bit Foundation. Stockdale was joint lead on the original BBC Learning micro: bit project. In 2017, Kavita Kapoor joined the micro: bit team as COO. Kapoor has expressed a vision for micro: bit that makes a special effort to reach out to girls and under-served areas.

What about partners? The Micro Bit Foundation also has an impressive list of partners from the fields of STEM and education, including Amazon, BBC, British Council, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Lancaster University, and Microsoft.

Analysis and reflections micro: bit is a relatively low cost device that connects students to both the physical and digital aspects of coding. The potential social value of micro: bit is to give students hands-on experience with coding, thereby increasing interest in STEM learning, especially among girls and underprivileged populations. micro: bit is not a disruptive player in the field and integrates well with existing learning technologies, curricula, and teaching styles. The Micro Bit Foundation has the backing of big names in STEM and education and has partnered with NGOs and GOs to make coding accessible to students globally. micro: bit encourages an online community of learners, sharing resources, lesson plans, and ideas. The Micro Bit Foundation has a dedicated team who show commitment to the venture from its early development through to its vision of global outreach. micro: bit represents an opportunity to add significant social value at a relatively low cost by potentially stimulating interest in STEM (coding), especially among girls and underprivileged learners.