Forfar Academy has launched into a new initiative encouraging young people to develop their digital talent.
In a week-long focus on the benefits of digital learning, the secondary kicked off its focus with an active fist-year assembly highlighting a national drive to encourage young people to develop programming and coding skills involving the new BBC Micro:bit computer.
Every S1 youngster will be issued with their own BBC Micro:bit computer, a circuit board measuring just 50mm x 40mm with two buttons and an array of 25 red LEDs. It can be coded to carry out a variety of tasks including flashing up numbers, letters and scrolling messages on the LEDs, and with a built-in accelerometer and compass can detect movement and tell which way it’s pointing.
In the coming weeks pupils will receive a further period of programming in ICT and technical education, using their coding skills to create a game and control a robotic car using the Micro:bit.
“We hope that having a focus on digital learning in school has opened up pupils imaginations to the vast opportunities that technology can bring to enhance their learning, the potential career pathways it can offer and the rich variety of skills that it can develop in our students” said Forfar Academy’s technical education teacher Bob Baldie.