WORKSHOP 03 · APRIL 25, 2026
Programming Edge/IoT
Systems with AI
BBC micro:bit + LLM-assisted coding — physical computing meets AI-powered development.
April 25, 2026 · 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST · Virtual
CRAFT PD Series · UCF DRACO Lab & School of Teacher Education
The CRAFT Cycle
Today's session IS a CRAFT cycle. You'll experience it — then learn to build your own.
CContextualizeWhy it matters — real-world framing
RReframeSurface the wrong model → install the right one
AAssembleI Do → We Do → You Do
FFortifyVerify with tools + AI; errors are features
TTransferConnect forward to your classroom
YOU DO
8:30 (10 min)
Hardware Check: Is Your micro:bit Alive?
Hold it up to the camera!
- Open makecode.microbit.org
- Flash the default 'Hello' program
- Problems? Join the Help Room breakout
→ makecode.microbit.org
8:45
C
Contextualize
Where IoT lives — smart farms, wearables, traffic, monitoring
YOU DO
Contextualize
8:50 (8 min)
Brainstorm: IoT in Your Subject
In the shared doc:
- Name one sensor scenario that connects to a topic you teach
- Star your favorite from someone else
→ Open Shared Doc
8:58
R
Reframe
Coding is physical, not just screens
YOU DO
Reframe
9:06 (9 min)
Breakout: Barriers to Hardware Teaching
In small groups:
- What's the #1 barrier? (Cost? Time? Comfort?)
- How does micro:bit + LLM address it?
BREAK
9:15 (10 min)
Break #1
Last hardware troubleshooting in Help Room.
9:25
A
Assemble
Sensors, code, and LLM-assisted programming
YOU DO
Assemble
9:35 (15 min)
Guided: Your First Sensor Program
Replicate the demo:
- Temperature sensor → LED display
- Add light sensor
- Ask an LLM for help and compare
- Flash and test!
→ makecode.microbit.org
YOU DO
Assemble
9:50 (30 min)
Breakout: Multi-Sensor Challenge
Combine 2+ sensors + trigger an action.
- Use an LLM to help write/debug
- Document: what you asked, what it got right, what you fixed
- Everyone programs their own micro:bit
YOU DO
10:20 (25 min)
Level Up: Choose Your Track
TRACK A: MAKECODE+Extend your project: LED visualization, radio comms, complex sensor logic. Push MakeCode to its limits.
TRACK B: MICROPYTHONConvert to Python. Ask an LLM to translate your blocks. Verify it runs on your device.
BREAK
10:45 (10 min)
Break #2 — Show & Tell
Post a photo of your micro:bit in chat.
10:55
F
Fortify
Does your sensor tell the truth?
YOU DO
Fortify
11:00 (15 min)
Experiment: Verify Your Sensor Data
Test your micro:bit:
- Cover light sensor — value goes to 0?
- Thumb on CPU — watch temp rise
- Compare to a real thermometer
- CtM: Task → Before → After → Takeaway
- Discovery: sensor reads CPU heat, not ambient air!
11:15
T
Transfer
Your classroom, your hardware, your CRAFT
YOU DO
Transfer
11:20 (18 min)
Build: Your IoT Lesson for Monday
Customize the template:
- Pick sensors & define data collection task
- Write student-facing CtM prompt
- Note the NGSS standard
- Pair-share: 'What's your first IoT lesson?'
→ Open IoT Lesson Template
Your Resource Kit
Everything is yours. Bookmark, download, remix.
🧩 MakeCode Projects
Starter files from today
🐍 MicroPython Starters
Python equivalents
📡 Sensor Reference
All micro:bit V2 sensors
📋 NGSS Crosswalk
IoT ↔ standards mapping
📄 IoT Lesson Template
NGSS-aligned, customizable
📝 Post-Survey
Help us improve
You just programmed a physical
computer using AI as your co-pilot
and verified the results like an engineer.
Your students can do this too.
CRAFT PD Series · UCF DRACO Lab & School of Teacher Education
Dr. Mike Borowczak & Dr. Andrea Borowczak