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���˿��� Teach > micro:bit - the next gen > playground survey

If it’s fluffy, feathered, slimy or scaly, zoologist and wildlife TV presenter Yussef Rafik is passionate about it. A self-confessed nature nerd, he loves nothing more than getting outdoors and encouraging others to do the same. He hopes the ���˿��� micro:bit playground survey will do just that.

As part of the survey, primary school pupils across the UK can use their ���˿��� micro:bits to monitor surface temperatures, biodiversity and the size of their playgrounds, as well as the physical activities children do in them.

‘I think it’s a great idea! Playgrounds are multipurpose spaces that come in lots of different shapes and sizes, where all kinds of different activities take place and all kinds of different plants and animals live,’ Yussef says. ‘By collecting data on all of this, pupils can learn about machine learning while also getting a new-found appreciation for their playgrounds.’

"It's an ideal data logger that you can take anywhere with you.”

Before he moved into the world of TV presenting, Yussef was a zookeeper. His passion for sharing his knowledge about all things wild has led to him presenting for the ���˿��� and Sky, and collaborating with organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and The Wildlife Trusts to promote conservation campaigns.

Yussef is even writing children’s books about the natural world. He’s especially passionate about some of its smallest inhabitants – insects. His various pet bugs often make an appearance on his social media channels. ‘I’m a big believer in shining a light on some of the less-loved animals of the planet.’

This is something he believes the ���˿��� micro:bit can help with. ‘Being pocket-sized, it’s an ideal data logger that you can take anywhere with you,’ Yussef explains. ‘It gives us an easy and accurate way of collecting data when we’re out in the field. By simply pressing a button and then having that information stored, it’s a very useful piece of kit!’

But are coding skills really valuable for someone who wants to pursue a career in wildlife and nature conservation? ‘Absolutely! By using computing skills, we can use our collected biodiversity data to create models that show us things like how populations of different species are doing over time,’ Yussef explains. ‘This information can then be used to see which species need our help the most, so it’s very valuable in nature conservation.’

While the link between computing and biodiversity may seem surprising, Yussef emphasises how important it is for real-life scientists studying plants and animals.

‘Computing definitely plays an important role in studying wildlife, largely when it comes to collecting and processing data on the biodiversity of an area. By using computing in this way, we are able to visually map out any trends or changes in biodiversity levels.’

The playground survey gives pupils the opportunity to collect a range of data in a familiar place, and can be repeated for years to come to help map how biodiversity changes over time in school playgrounds.

Using computing in this way could help to introduce pupils to coding and machine learning, which can be intimidating. ‘In my opinion, the ���˿��� micro:bit is a fantastic way of making it fun and engaging, giving young people an interactive way of learning.’

The ���˿��� micro:bit playground survey was created to help children aged 7 - 11 get to grips with data science and digital skills in a fun and practical way. Find out more about the seven activities and get free resources on the playground survey site.

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