Published October 22, 2018

Competitive Math Training Thru Microbits (Master Version)

A Master Microbit(Teacher) issues out math equations to Client Microbits(Students). Students then compete to be first w/ the correct answer.

IntermediateFull instructions provided1 hour2,021

Competitive Math Training Thru Microbits (Master Version)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

BBC micro:bit board

Kitronik MI:Power Board

Kitronik MI:pro Protector Case

Story

A Microbit Game: Competitive Math Training Thru Microbits

(Master Version)

Developed by: Philip Ching Cua (MLC Ventures Singapore)

https://www.mlcventuressg.com/

In Collaboration with: Marcus Loo Cua (Angsana Primary School, SIngapore)

BBC Microbit Motherboard

Kitronik MI:pro Protector Case

Kitronik MI:Power Board Kit

Fully assembled Microbits

A Microbit-based game to help teachers train their students in math through a fun & competitive manner.

Game is composed of 1 Master Microbit (Teacher) & multiple Client Microbits (Students).

Master sends out a math equation (randomised) to all Clients and waits for their answers. First Client to answer correctly, wins. First Client to get 5 wins will get a “W” icon on his device. All Clients’ winning tally will be reset once one Client hits the 5 wins so a fresh round of tallying will begin anew.

Master & Client Microbit Hardware Set Up

The hardware assembly of the Master & the Clients Microbits are similar. Only the type of software copied into the Microbit will differentiate a Master Microbit from a Client Microbit. (For the Client version, please visit: https://www.hackster.io/philip-cua/competitive-math-training-thru-micro-bits-client-version-7e9f96)

First, assemble the MI:Power Board kit into the BBC Microbit motherboard. After which, assemble the MI:pro Protector Case into the Microbit with the attached powerboard.

Copy the Master Hex program file into one of the assembled Microbit as the Master. And copy the Client Hex program into the rest of the assembled Microbits to act as Client Microbits.

Alternatively, you may also assemble Microbit sets using the motherboard and the regular triple AAA battery case should you not be able to procure the Kitronik case and powerboard.

Microbit triple AAA battery case

Fully assembled Microbit with triple AAA battery using rubber band

Master Microbit:

ButtonA will generate an equation composed of 2 numbers and send the equation out to the Clients. The equation will be displayed on Master’s screen as well as on Clients’ devices.

Pressing ButtonB on Master will display the answer to the equation.

Pressing ButtonA will re-display the previously generated equation.

Master waits for Clients to send in their answers. The first correct answer received will be the winner. A tick mark will be displayed once a correct answer is received. A message will be sent to the winner Client Microbit and his device will display the tick mark also. For first Client to get 5 wins, he will get an additional “W” icon on his device. All Clients’ winning tally will be reset once one Client achieves 5 wins, so a fresh round of tallying begins anew.

ButtonA+B on Master will reset the game but not the winning tally.

After reset, pressing ButtonA will send out a new equation.

To accommodate two different levels of students, upon Shake, the game Level will change, either from L0 to L1 (more difficult) or from L1 to L0 (less difficult).

Client Microbits:

An equation will be displayed on Client devices when the Master sends out an equation.

Client player computes the answer to the equation and keys in his answer using ButtonA & ButtonB.

ButtonA displays a single digit representing the first digit of the answer.

ButtonB displays a single digit also, representing the second digit of the answer. Answers will always be limited to 2 digits only.

The single digit starts at 0.... pressing the button again will increase it by 1 until it reaches 9 then it goes back to 0 again.

Once the answer has been set through ButtonA & ButtonB, pressing ButtonA+B will send the answer to the Master.

If the answer is correct & the Client is the first to answer correctly, a message will be received from the Master indicating Client is the winner. A tick mark will be displayed on Client device. First Client to achieve 5 wins will receive an additional “W” icon on his device. All Clients’ winning tally will be reset to zero once one player achieves 5 wins.

Wrong answers will not get any response from the Master Microbit.

To recall back the equation, upon Shake, the equation will be re-displayed on Client screen.

A Microbit-Based Competitive Math Training Game (Master Version)

let EqString = ""
let Answer = 0
let GotCorrect = 0
let CorrectID = 0
let RadioCorrectID = 0
let Y = 0
let ReceiveSw = 0
let RadioEqStr = 0
let ShowAnsSw = 0
let X = 0
let PressButtA = 0
let Lvl = 0
let Eqn = 0
let ShowEqStr = 0
let serial2 = 0
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
    if (PressButtA == 0) {
        if (Lvl == 0) {
            X = Math.random(16)
            Y = Math.random(16)
        } else {
            X = Math.random(41)
            Y = Math.random(40)
        }
        X += 10
        Y += 10
        Answer = X + Y
        Eqn = X * 100
        Eqn += Y
        EqString = "" + X + "+" + Y
        PressButtA = 1
        ReceiveSw = 1
        RadioEqStr = 1
    }
    ShowEqStr = 1
    ShowAnsSw = 0
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => {
    if (PressButtA == 1) {
        ShowEqStr = 0
        ShowAnsSw = 1
    }
})
radio.onDataPacketReceived( ({ receivedString: name, receivedNumber: value, serial: serial2 }) =>  {
    if (name == "ANS") {
        if (ReceiveSw == 1) {
            if (GotCorrect == 0) {
                if (Answer == value) {
                    CorrectID = serial2
                    ReceiveSw = 0
                    GotCorrect = 1
                    RadioCorrectID = 1
                    RadioEqStr = 0
                    ShowAnsSw = 0
                    ShowEqStr = 0
                    for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
                        basic.clearScreen()
                        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Yes)
                    }
                    music.beginMelody(music.builtInMelody(Melodies.PowerUp), MelodyOptions.Once)
                }
            }
        }
    }
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.AB, () => {
    for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
        basic.clearScreen()
    }
    Eqn = 0
    ReceiveSw = 0
    GotCorrect = 0
    X = 0
    Y = 0
    RadioEqStr = 0
    RadioCorrectID = 0
    ShowEqStr = 0
    PressButtA = 0
    ShowAnsSw = 0
    Answer = 0
    basic.clearScreen()
})
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
    if (Lvl == 0) {
        Lvl = 1
        basic.clearScreen()
        basic.showLeds(`
            # . . # .
            # . # # .
            # . . # .
            # . . # .
            # # . # .
            `)
        basic.pause(5000)
    } else {
        Lvl = 0
        basic.clearScreen()
        basic.showLeds(`
            # . . # .
            # . # . #
            # . # . #
            # . # . #
            # # . # .
            `)
        basic.pause(5000)
    }
})
radio.setGroup(23)
radio.setTransmitSerialNumber(true)
Eqn = 0
ReceiveSw = 0
GotCorrect = 0
X = 0
Y = 0
RadioEqStr = 0
RadioCorrectID = 0
ShowEqStr = 0
PressButtA = 0
ShowAnsSw = 0
Answer = 0
EqString = ""
Lvl = 1
basic.forever(() => {
    if (RadioEqStr == 1) {
        radio.sendValue("PLUS", Eqn)
    }
    if (RadioCorrectID == 1) {
        radio.sendValue("CID", CorrectID)
    }
    if (ShowEqStr == 1) {
        basic.clearScreen()
        basic.showString(EqString)
        basic.pause(500)
    }
    if (ShowAnsSw == 1) {
        basic.clearScreen()
        basic.showNumber(Answer)
        basic.pause(500)
    }
})