Microbit classroom is a great addition for Microbit users, specially teacher or educator looking for distance learning coding and electronics resources. In this article, we  will cover what you need to know about setting up your virtual classroom!

If you want to go along as I go through process then you can open to tab and keep them side by side. You can jump on the Microbit classroom website -https://classroom.microbit.org/

You can either write your code from scratch or just drag and drop your existing code to workspace on right hand side. 

Currently, you can either switch between block and  Javascript or a python. this needs to be select at the beginning of the setting up classroom. 

Navigate to Dashboard to find your virtual classroom details. This can be shared with your students to join. The classroom name and pin are auto generated. 

Due to the technology behind Makecode, this virtual classroom are browser based. They are not stored on any cloud, they are between teacher and students. Once teacher closes the session they are no longer accessible. So as a teacher, do no not miss to go to save classroom. 

As soon as you share information and your students are join virtual class, you will able to see each student on left hand side. Once you select student name then you can view what student have prepared or working on. The code shown hear are almost live!!

This is best way to monitor each student as well share studen's work with other. Even in the face to face  classroom, it could be very helpful for teacher to observe and help student in writing code. By single click your can share new code to your students. 

Saving your classroom can help you save students' work as well help you use those details for assessments in future. The Microsoft Makecode Classroom also have an option to resume session. 

The downloaded students' work be found on above shown menu.

While teaching coding, you can use share code with students button to send your existing code to selected or all students. Please do note, by doing this it will over right student's existing code. It is advisable that you ask student to save file name and download code when they finish work. Also do not accept new code unless they are ready to work on new task!

I believe, you might be excited to use this tool and setup your first virtual classroom.

Feel free to reach us out and let me know your thought. Also, you may want to checkout our Microbit page www.pakronics.com.au/microbit