Workshop 3 runs entirely in the MakeCode online simulator — no hardware is required during the session. BBC micro:bit V2 kits are mailed after the session to participants who complete both surveys and submit a draft two-node IoT lesson. Two templates below: (1) pre-session reminder (simulator only), (2) post-session kit shipping confirmation.
Reassures participants that no hardware is needed and walks them through a 2-minute simulator check.
Subject
🌐 Workshop 3 Prep: 2-Minute Simulator Check (No Hardware Needed)
To
[Workshop 3 registered participants]
From
[Your name / DRACO Lab]
Hi [First Name],
We're excited for Workshop 3: Programming Edge/IoT Systems with AI on [Date]!
Good news: you do not need any hardware to attend. Everything runs in the MakeCode online simulator — and the moment you drop a radio block into your program, MakeCode spawns a second simulated micro:bit so you can build a two-node IoT system right in a browser tab.
The BBC micro:bit V2 kit ships AFTER the workshop to participants who complete both surveys and submit a draft two-node IoT lesson. More on that in the session.
2-Minute Simulator Check
1
Open makecode.microbit.org in Chrome or Edge (the simulator works in any modern browser, but we recommend these two).
2
Click "New Project" and give it any name. You should see a blocks editor on the right and a simulated micro:bit on the left.
3
Drag a show string "hi" block into the on start block. The simulator should immediately scroll "hi" across the LED matrix.
4
Now drag a radio send number 0 block into on start too (Radio category). Watch: a second simulated micro:bit appears. That's the IoT system we'll build together.
5
Verify sound works (for Workshop activities): the simulator speaker icon should not be muted.
⚠️ Trouble?
- Simulator doesn't render or is frozen: Try Chrome or Edge. Disable aggressive ad-blockers for
makecode.microbit.org.
- School network blocks the editor: The MakeCode editor uses
makecode.com and microbit.org. Ask IT to allow these. A personal laptop on home wifi is a reliable backup.
- Only one simulator shows up when you add a radio block: Click the little "+" or the group icon in the simulator corner, or zoom out — MakeCode lays them out horizontally. Refresh the page if needed.
- Still stuck? Reply to this email and we'll help you troubleshoot before the session.
Before the Workshop
Please have these ready:
- ✅ makecode.microbit.org open in one browser tab
- ✅ An LLM of your choice (ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini) open in another tab
- ✅ Zoom link ready (sent separately)
- 🎁 Post-session reward: complete both surveys + submit a draft IoT lesson and we ship you a BBC micro:bit V2 kit — yours to keep
See you on [Date] at 8:30 AM PST!
— Dr. Mike Borowczak & Dr. Andrea Borowczak
UCF DRACO Lab & School of Teacher Education
CRAFT PD Series
Send only to participants who completed both surveys AND submitted a draft two-node IoT lesson in the shared doc.
Subject
📦 Your BBC micro:bit V2 Kit Is on Its Way
To
[Completers of Workshop 3]
From
[Your name / DRACO Lab]
Hi [First Name],
Thank you for completing Workshop 3 — your pre- and post-surveys are in, and we have your draft two-node IoT lesson. As promised, your BBC micro:bit V2 kit is being shipped this week to the address you provided during registration.
What's in the box:
- 1 × BBC micro:bit V2 board
- 1 × micro-USB cable
- 1 × battery pack (2×AAA)
When It Arrives — 10-Minute "First Flash"
1
Connect the micro:bit via USB. It should appear as a USB drive called "MICROBIT."
2
Reopen your saved Sensor Node project in
makecode.microbit.org (it's in "My Projects") and click the purple
Download button. Drag the
.hex to the MICROBIT drive.
3
Verify the Fortify preview: watch the temperature values — they'll read 3–8°C higher than your room thermometer, because the sensor is on the CPU die. That's the real-hardware calibration problem we previewed in session. Great day-one lesson for your students.
4
Flash a partner's Aggregator Node to a second device (yours or a colleague's) on the same radio group, and watch the real devices do exactly what the simulators did.
Trouble? Common fixes:
- MICROBIT drive doesn't appear: Try a different USB cable (some are charge-only, not data). Try a different USB port.
- Download button doesn't work: Use Chrome or Edge (not Safari — it has pairing issues).
- micro:bit shows "?" or error: Unplug, hold the reset button (on the back), plug back in while holding reset, then release.
- Still stuck? Reply to this email — we'll get you flashing.
Next Steps
- Run your draft two-node IoT lesson with students. Send us a photo — we love showcase stories.
- Join the CRAFT PD alumni channel [link] to share lesson iterations with other Workshop 3 completers.
- Questions? Reach out anytime.
— Dr. Mike Borowczak & Dr. Andrea Borowczak
UCF DRACO Lab & School of Teacher Education
CRAFT PD Series