Year 6 - Design and technology
Input and output design decisions
Systems and control: sensor alarms
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit develops pupils' programming and control knowledge, with a focus on monitoring. Debugging and troubleshooting will be introduced. Pupils will learn how to integrate a BBC Micro:bit in a product and use sensors to program a light display.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to choose inputs and outputs for your micro:bit alarm system.
Key Notes
- A micro:bit alarm could include onboard inputs such as an accelerometer, magnetometer or light sensor.
- A micro:bit alarm could include offboard inputs such as a photoresistor or push-to-make switch.
- A micro:bit alarm could include onboard outputs such as an LED display or speaker.
- A micro:bit alarm could include offboard outputs such as buzzers or LED lights.
- Design decisions need to be made as to what a designer wants the micro:bit to do.
Vocabulary To Learn
- onboard components: different parts of a product that are already built into a micro:bit
- offboard components: different parts of a product that can be attached to a micro:bit
- accelerometer: a device that measures how quickly something is speeding up or slowing down
- design decisions: the choices made when creating a product
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Sensors on a micro:bit work automatically.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
A micro:bit alarm could include onboard inputs such as an accelerometer, magnetometer or light sensor. A micro:bit alarm could include offboard inputs such as a photoresistor or push-to-make switch.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'onboard components'
different parts of a product that are already built into a micro:bit.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Sensors on a micro:bit work automatically. Correction: Micro:bits need a program to control the sensors.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Integrate programmable systems in a product Study Guide
- Museum alarm programming and fault finding Study Guide
- Museum gallery artefacts Study Guide
- Museum gallery prototypes Study Guide
- Offboard components Study Guide
- Push-to-make switches Study Guide
- The Great Exhibition and presenting museum alarms Study Guide
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