Farnell supports mission to empower digital learning for children

As a manufacturing partner of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, Farnell is dedicated to promoting digital education and cultivating a culture of innovation among young learners in the UK.

BBC micro:bit – the next gen is a partnership between BBC Education, the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, and Nominet. As part of this campaign, nearly 700k BBC micro:bits will be given for free to primary schools across the UK.

As children return to the classroom, primary schools across the UK are encouraged to apply for a free set of 30 BBC micro:bits by visiting bbc.co.uk/microbit. Primary teachers and pupils can also start the new school year with a suite of free educational resources, including an array of inspiring classroom activities to get children coding with their new BBC micro:bits.

Simon Meadmore, Vice President, Product and Supplier Management at Farnell, said: " As a manufacturing partner, Farnell is dedicated to producing micro:bits that will serve as the building blocks of digital literacy and creativity for the next generation.  We believe in the power of education to change lives, and the micro:bit is an excellent example of how technology can be used to inspire and empower young people. We're proud to be a part of this initiative, which will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the digital literacy and creativity of the next generation."

Romain Soreau, Global Category Head, SBC at Farnell, said: “We are deeply committed to nurturing the education of future generations of engineers, making the world of electronics more accessible to children. Our partnership with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation to manufacture micro:bits underscores our unwavering dedication to promoting digital education and fostering a culture of innovation."

Since the initial BBC campaign in 2015, which marked the beginning of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation and Farnell partnership, more than 60 countries have benefited from learning with the micro:bit. It is estimated that 39 million young people have been able to learn using this technology, with Farnell distributing one million micro:bits in the UK alone. This partnership aims to empower the next generation of technology creators and users globally, setting an example for other countries to follow.

Farnell also provides a range of resources to assist educators and parents supporting children with STEM. The element14 Community’s STEM Academy provides a wealth of content and support for those looking to get started with the micro:bit. This dedicated online hub is designed for people who want to explore learning concepts and classroom-based design projects within the electronics and digital space.

The element14 Community’s ‘The Learning Circuit’ series features a number of instructional videos which take viewers through different ways to learn and explore with micro:bit. These short videos teach users how to apply micro:bit to their designs and offer instruction and advice on bringing projects to life. 

The micro:bit is part of a global movement to create fun and interactive environments for youth to learn about coding and electronics.