KS3 micro:bit sensory classroom

In this unit of 4 lessons students consider how a sensory classroom can be used to meet the needs of learners who are sensitive to sensory stimulus. They evaluate sensory aids to learn how they meet the needs of their users and use this understanding to plan and devise a classroom sensory aid using the micro:bit.

Ideally, this unit should be taught after ‘Computing fundamentals’ and assumes students have experience of writing algorithms using pseudocode and have used the MakeCode editor.

The unit comprises 4 lessons of approx. 60 minutes each:

1. Evaluating sensory learning environments
2. Writing algorithms and programs to sequence light patterns
3. Designing a sensory aid to meet a given criteria, including algorithms
4. Making and evaluating a sensory aid, including programming
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Learning objectives

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science
• have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve problems
• can evaluate and apply information technology
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
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Additional skills
Creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, evaluation.
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Included resources

• Lesson plan Word docs
• Lesson slides PowerPoints
• Student handouts
• micro:bit program files
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England KS3 Computing curriculum links

• design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems
• use logical reasoning to compare the utility of alternative algorithms for the same problem