--- title: SparkFun Education Blog | Derek Runberg (2) description: Maker Education Blog (2) --- [![Sparkfun](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/img/logo.png)](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/index.html) - [SparkFun Webstore](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Higher Ed](https://sparkfuneducation.com/higher-ed/index.html) - [Contact Us](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/contact-us.html) - [Follow Us](https://twitter.com/SparkFunEDU) - [Home](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Blog](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Curriculum](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/curriculum.html) - [PD/Events](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/professional-dev.html) - [KITS/Materials](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/materials.html) - [Educator Stories](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/educator-stories.html) - [Activities](https://activities.sparkfuneducation.com) [Blog Home](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/) / SparkFun Education Blog ## Derek Runberg ![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/Derek.jpg) ### Recent Posts [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lMudoYnRB_IxPRAaEalMu_bE2Hy1rGralTI-ekGYB5uJmmHpmFeB8mi5jhkNVOSNG8vzsiJsZcpmU7Vm3kK9ODTpChaLKA6JhukoKkkUjaNYwSSWxxGt_eXjyFCGEmR6LVWWacOV)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/four-ways-to-extend-the-capabilities-of-your-microbit) ## [Four Ways to Extend the Capabilities of your micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/four-ways-to-extend-the-capabilities-of-your-microbit) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 5/17/18 7:00 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/four-ways-to-extend-the-capabilities-of-your-microbit#comments-listing) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) We've seen a lot of traction over the past year around the micro:bit in K-12 education. It is easy to program, Chromebook compatible and has a number of bells and whistles on it that make it really ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/four-ways-to-extend-the-capabilities-of-your-microbit) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/2microbits_take2.png)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/working-with-the-radio-on-the-microbit) ## [Free your radio functionality on the micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/working-with-the-radio-on-the-microbit) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 3/29/18 6:00 AM [4](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/working-with-the-radio-on-the-microbit#comments-listing) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) [STEM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The micro:bit has made a huge impact on getting "quicker to awesome" in the classroom. From third grade to high school and beyond, it has proved itself to be a platform that is easy to learn and ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/working-with-the-radio-on-the-microbit) [![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_Cg8l1D3yxpyMEiFxlJv1Z9CWjqbPZhczerXJZ8yVHbS_5bNzHnzWiiQ20H1iS_utx2KnGxPW3H4OmIP4qBtjcVEzv8dCIlY5JPTj2kNI7ujYmdo28ihFPtbHugJXUoFuhX5tIdZ)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-car-in-space-let-students-ponder-why) ## [A Car in Space? Let Students Ponder Why.](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-car-in-space-let-students-ponder-why) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 2/15/18 6:36 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-car-in-space-let-students-ponder-why#comments-listing) [Events](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/events) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) On the morning of February 7th I was sitting on my couch drinking my morning coffee with my wife and watching the “Today” show when a segment came up about SpaceX and their groundbreaking launch of ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-car-in-space-let-students-ponder-why) [![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4swt_jg9x5r9pfpFVL9hDY2mL8LpbK0jsLMUeQFDsjGU4elF5OGm19FdtXoNhlRgLyPssD4sCykpbH9BHOm6UEhC85tcAQV4-mUyE3wv7ETQBOADkKwTIyXmQDc2S67Zhrf0wrB6)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microbit-app-inventor) ## [Building a weather station with micro:bit and App Inventor](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microbit-app-inventor) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 10/26/17 8:32 AM [5](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microbit-app-inventor#comments-listing) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) [STEM](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) [weather](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/weather) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Recently, I did an hourlong webinar on the idea of combining the micro:bit with MIT App Inventor where we leveraged Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and a tool called BlockyTalkyBLE to build apps that ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/microbit-app-inventor) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/August%202017/Exp5_FinalAssembly.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/citizen-science-with-the-microbit) ## [Citizen Science With the micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/citizen-science-with-the-microbit) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 8/22/17 6:30 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/citizen-science-with-the-microbit#comments-listing) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) [weather](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/weather) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) My greatest frustration with science class when I was in school was during labs. For some reason I saw them for what they were…rule-following exercises. Think about it for a second. The lab stations ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/citizen-science-with-the-microbit) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/June%202017/book%20cover.png)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-inventors-guide-the-book) ## [Arduino Inventor's Guide: The Book](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-inventors-guide-the-book) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 6/27/17 6:48 AM [2](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-inventors-guide-the-book#comments-listing) [Arduino](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/arduino) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [announcement](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/announcement) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [student projects](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/student-projects) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [microcontroller](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microcontroller) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Over the past year and a half, SparkFun has been working with No Starch Press to release our second book. We're so excited to announce that we just got our first copies from the press! The SparkFun ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-inventors-guide-the-book) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/June%202017/rig.png)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-guide-to-development-boards-for-educators-microprocessors-vs-microcontrollers) ## [A Guide to Development Boards for Educators: Microprocessors vs. Microcontrollers](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-guide-to-development-boards-for-educators-microprocessors-vs-microcontrollers) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 6/22/17 6:29 AM [2](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-guide-to-development-boards-for-educators-microprocessors-vs-microcontrollers#comments-listing) [Arduino](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/arduino) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) [microcontroller](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microcontroller) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [What is a](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/what-is-a) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The world of development boards in the hobbyist and educational market is exploding; every year there are new boards with new chips — cheaper, faster and with more bells and whistles. Some of the ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-guide-to-development-boards-for-educators-microprocessors-vs-microcontrollers) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/May%202017/SatSlideshow-4-930777-edited.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-teachers-guide-to-experiencing-a-maker-faire) ## [A Teacher’s Guide to Experiencing a Maker Faire](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-teachers-guide-to-experiencing-a-maker-faire) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 5/30/17 6:56 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-teachers-guide-to-experiencing-a-maker-faire#comments-listing) [Professional Development](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/professional-development) [Events](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/events) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) I have been to a few Maker Faires — most of them while working for SparkFun, which usually amounts to manning a booth, meeting with other makers and checking out all of the new technology and ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/a-teachers-guide-to-experiencing-a-maker-faire) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/April%202017/Blynk.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/taking-the-first-steps-into-the-world-of-iot-with-the-arduino-101) ## [Taking the First Steps Into the World of IoT With the Arduino 101](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/taking-the-first-steps-into-the-world-of-iot-with-the-arduino-101) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 4/27/17 6:53 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/taking-the-first-steps-into-the-world-of-iot-with-the-arduino-101#comments-listing) [Arduino](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/arduino) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [Internet of Things](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/internet-of-things) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) For many teachers the idea of approaching Arduino in the classroom seems daunting, and they feel like they need to know everything before they dive into embedded electronics with their students. In ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/taking-the-first-steps-into-the-world-of-iot-with-the-arduino-101) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/March%202017/sik-on-table.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/where-to-start-with-this-arduino-thing) ## [Where to Start With This Arduino Thing?](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/where-to-start-with-this-arduino-thing) BY [Derek Runberg](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) 3/28/17 6:39 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/where-to-start-with-this-arduino-thing#comments-listing) [Arduino](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/arduino) [Processing](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/processing) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The number one question I get from classroom teachers after “Where do I start?” is “What language should I teach?”...and then “Well, then does X platform or board support that?” These questions are ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/where-to-start-with-this-arduino-thing) [Previous](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg/page/1) [All posts](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/all) [Next](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg/page/3) ### Subscribe to SparkFun Education Blog ### Topics - [helpful information (79)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) - [Maker Education (60)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) - [teaching tools (55)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) - [getting started (54)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) - [Guest Post (44)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/guest-post) - [computer science (40)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) - [micro:bit (38)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) - [student projects (37)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/student-projects) - [STEM (36)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/stem) - [programming (34)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) - [STEAM (31)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/steam) - [Events (28)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/events) - [Arduino (25)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/arduino) - [robotics (20)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/robotics) - [e-textiles (18)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/e-textiles) - [Professional Development (17)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/professional-development) - [basic circuits (17)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/basic-circuits) - [What is a (16)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/what-is-a) - [announcement (16)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/announcement) - [makerspace (15)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/makerspace) - [Community Partnership Program (14)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/community-partnership-program) - [Training (13)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/training) - [raspberry pi (13)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [python (11)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) - [AVC (10)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/avc) - [paper circuits (10)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/paper-circuits) - [Makey Makey (8)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/makey-makey) - [SIK (8)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/sik) - [Adventures in Science (7)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/adventures-in-science) - [microcontroller (7)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microcontroller) - [Internet of Things (5)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/internet-of-things) - [Processing (4)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/processing) - [Javascript (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/javascript) - [LilyPad (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/lilypad) - [funding (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/funding) - [weather (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/weather) - [Insider (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/insider) - [Johnny-five (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/johnny-five) All Tags ### Recent Authors - [Megan Hemmings (79)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) - [Maya Kleinbort (22)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/maya-kleinbort) - [Derek Runberg (21)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/derek-runberg) - [Shane Diller (16)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shane-diller) - [Jeff Branson (15)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jeff-branson) - [Angela Sheehan (12)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/angela-sheehan) - [Melissa Felderman (9)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/melissa-felderman) - [Megan Arnold (8)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-arnold) - [Brian Huang (6)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/brian-huang) - [Shawn Hymel (6)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shawn-hymel) - [Shelby Landsman (6)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shelby-landsman) - [Jahnell Pereira (5)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jahnell-pereira) - [Hailey Blessing (5)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/hailey-blessing) - [Mike Grusin (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/mike-grusin) - [Peter Hanson (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/peter-hanson) - [Andrew Milne (3)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/andrew-milne) - [Toni Klopfenstein (2)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/toni-klopfenstein) - [Joanna Drusin (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/joanna-drusin) - [Joe Romano (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/joe-romano) - [Mrinali P. Kesavadas (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/mrinali-p-kesavadas) - [Christa Flores (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/christa-flores) - [Michelle Shorter (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/michelle-shorter) - [Colleen Graves (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/colleen-graves) - [Janelle Curtis (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/janelle-curtis) - [Eric Bogatin (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/eric-bogatin) - [Athena Zhang Baker (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/athena-zhang-baker) - [Janice Levenhagen (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/janice-levenhagen) - [Carol Hamilton (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/carol-hamilton) - [Vanessa Lail (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/vanessa-lail) - [Bobby Chan (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/bobby-chan) - [Glenn Samala (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/glenn-samala) - [Zack Weaver (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/zack-weaver) - [Dr. Jean-Sébastien Blouin (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/dr-jean-sébastien-blouin) - [Daphne Sipes (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/daphne-sipes) - [Axel Reitzig (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/axel-reitzig) - [Justin Weisz (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/justin-weisz) - [Kylie Peppler (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/kylie-peppler) - [Michael Megliola (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/michael-megliola) - [Casey Kuhns (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/casey-kuhns) - [Rebecca Grabman (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/rebecca-grabman) - [Sylvia Martinez (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/sylvia-martinez) - [Charles Randolph (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/charles-randolph) - [Ira Sather-Olson (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/ira-sather-olson) - [Kathy Strickland (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/kathy-strickland) - [Pete Lewis (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/pete-lewis) - [Jamie Roth (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jamie-roth) - [Mimi Tran Zambetti (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/mimi-tran-zambetti) - [Ryan Jenkins (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/ryan-jenkins) - [Kristen Deuschle (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/kristen-deuschle) - [Erika Myers (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/erika-myers) - [Sara Gonzalez (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/sara-gonzalez) - [Celeste Moreno (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/celeste-moreno) - [Samantha Nagle (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/samantha-nagle) - [Pearce Melcher (1)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/pearce-melcher) All Authors ### Recent Posts ### Submit Your Idea [![SparkFun Education](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/img/logo.png)](http://www.sparkfuneducation.com/index.html) #### Other Resources - [Contact Us](http://www.sparkfuneducation.com/contact-us.html) - [About SparkFun](http://www.sparkfun.com) - [FAQs](https://www.sparkfun.com/static/faq) - [Customer Service](https://www.sparkfun.com/support) - [Shipping](https://www.sparkfun.com/support) - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.sparkfun.com/terms) #### Sign Up for Newsletter © Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved.