Seventh Graders Stay on Track With Micro:Bits

11/6/2024

It’s a surefire way to get their steps in. Seventh grade students in the Computer Science for Innovators and Makers course are designing and programming fitness trackers to inspire healthy habits.

View Photo Gallery

Using micro:bit devices, they’re learning about computer programming concepts and the smart devices industry. Students are currently working on built-in micro:bit sensors like accelerometers that track movement and gestures.

Sophia Kwauka ’30 is collaborating with Ayla Steinwurtzel ’30 on their tracker. “Because I’m a runner and do cross country, I’d really like to use it if we can get it to work,” Kwauka mused enthusiastically.

Steinwurtzel said they’re still working on a name for their device but it has been “cool to learn about micro:bits and create a watch that can track their steps and how fast they’re going.”

Rae Johnson ’11, middle school innovation and entrepreneurship center teacher, explained how some students opted to expand on the basic step tracker concept, while others created sleep timers, devices that could measure the length of a tennis volley, and devices that measure how long an athlete can hold a gymnastic pose.

The students needed to consider how users would track their progress over time. They also had to program the micro:bit to log specific data and present it to the wearer in a legible format. In addition, they had to decide how the user would wear the device, and how that would impact the data.

Alex Menell ’30 was working on a second wristband for his “Micro:Fit” tracker. “It finds the compass’ cardinal direction,” he explained. “Then it also counts your steps and measures your acceleration.”

Menell has enjoyed the entire micro:bit process: “I like learning the code and how much you can do with it. You can have physical data and hold it, but with the other coding programs, you just see it.”

Johnson has been impressed with how the students are making this project their own and bringing their interests and hobbies into the design process. “They've shown that they are willing to take creative risks, not knowing exactly how to accomplish their goals but secure in the idea that they can find the answers if they try,” Johnson shared. “This is not easy work!”