Open Access Peer-reviewed Review

Τhe BBC micro:bit in Primary Schools: A Systematic Review on Computational Thinking, Creativity, and Pedagogical Strategies

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Submitted   Jul 3, 2025
Published   Oct 24, 2025
Issue    Vol 5 No 2 (2025)
DOI   10.25082/AMLER.2025.02.015

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Eleni Papadaki corresponding author
Department of Primary and Preschool Education, University of Crete, Rethymno 74100, Greece

Abstract

This article undertakes a systematic review of the educational integration of the BBC micro:bit in primary education. Using the PRISMA methodology as a framework, empirical studies published in the past decade (2015–2025, as of August) were identified through Scopus and through supplementary searches in Google Scholar. Three additional studies were retrieved from Google Scholar to ensure broader coverage. In total, seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the BBC micro:bit facilitates the development of students’ computational thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills, and collaborative abilities, while nurturing their autonomy, ecological awareness, and learning engagement. Effective pedagogical strategies-including STEAM activities, project-based learning, and physical computing--were commonly employed. This review also addresses methodological limitations of the included studies and emphasizes the necessity of further longitudinal research to fully unlock the educational potential of the micro:bit.

Keywords
BBC micro:bit, computational thinking, primary education, educational technology, STEAM, physical computing

Article Details

How to Cite
Papadaki, E. (2025). Τhe BBC micro:bit in Primary Schools: A Systematic Review on Computational Thinking, Creativity, and Pedagogical Strategies. Advances in Mobile Learning Educational Research, 5(2), 1611-1620. https://doi.org/10.25082/AMLER.2025.02.015
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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