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Micro-units for micro:bits: integrating physical computing into upper elementary STEM classrooms

McPherson, Sam
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McInnes, Thomas
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2026-04
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2026 Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium
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Sam_McPherson_UGRS2026.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/11124/182007
 https://doi.org/10.25676/11124/182007
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Abstract
This poster presents our design of a micro-unit for teaching for-loops using the BBC micro:bit in upper elementary STEM classrooms. We developed this work as part of a research–practice partnership with Aurora Public Schools, where we collaborate with researchers at Colorado School of Mines and University of Colorado Boulder as well as elementary STEM teachers to co-design accessible and engaging computer science curriculum. Through this partnership, we also aim to support teachers in building confidence and seeing themselves as part of a broader community of computer scientists. Our initial work focused on a longer unit centered on visualizing sound, where students explored events, conditionals, and loops through block-based programming. However the reality of elementary school scheduling leaves only 90 minutes of quality instruction time per week with gaps of 4-6 weeks between sessions, which impedes student retention and implementation fidelity. In response, we shifted to designing micro-units that fit within three class periods in a single week. In this poster, we highlight a micro-unit focused on loops. In this unit, students create stop motion style animations on the micro:bit using loops. They then exchange devices with peers and reverse engineer each other’s programs by constructing hand drawn representations of the code. This process encourages students to recognize patterns, reason about repetition, and engage in computational thinking as both creators and interpreters of code. We will continue developing and piloting this unit during an upcoming summer teacher workshop.
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