Students program micro:bit to encourage physical activity
Students Emma and Aoife from Ireland created and coded a winning tech solution to encourage physical activity and limit screen time
“Exercise is key” makes use of the BBC micro:bit’s accelerometer or movement sensor, and rewards physical activity with 15 minutes of screen time. The girls identified that using the micro:bit allowed them to make their creation small, and therefore practical for the user. This innovative product design is the winning entry in the 2021 15 to 18-year-old category for Europe. It relates to the UN Global Goal 3, Good health and well-being.
I am shocked and delighted about winning the challenge in my region!
Emma
Emma and Aoife, 2021 winners for the 15 to 18-year-old category for Europe
The do your :bit challenge is an annual competition which sets young people the challenge to innovate and design solutions relevant to the impacts of the Global Goals that are meaningful to them.
Obesity and screen time is a huge problem throughout Ireland. We wanted to help improve the health of the younger generation as we believe this problem will only continue to grow if solutions are not given.
Aoife
Exercise is the key
Exercise is the key, a video submitted to the 2021 do your :bit Global Goals challenge
Children and young people innovating with technology
The do your :bit challenge adds social purpose to digital learning and allows students to apply their digital skills to real world solutions. All projects and lesson resources are available for free and entries can be submitted into two age-range categories, 8 to 14-year-olds and 15 to 18-year-olds. 8 to 14-year-olds can submit either a paper prototype or working micro:bit solution.
Read about all of this year’s winning entries.
The next do your :bit challenge opens in early 2022, you can find out more about the challenge and access Global Goals project resources and lessons here.
