Problem: Students are unable to Flash their micro:bit using a Chromebook

With Microbit coding, the challenge is related to the new security systems introduced this year. Bluetooth and file transfers are blocked on all scholar devices, including Chromebooks, when logged in with scholar IDs. As a result, scholars are unable to download their codes, which prevents their robots from functioning.

Solution: Micro:bit Coding: Security and Connectivity

This is a classic problem in school environments where security is a top priority. The school's IT department has correctly blocked Bluetooth and file transfers for security reasons. The standard Micro:bit workflow of drag-and-drop or Bluetooth upload won't work.

The Solution: WebUSB

• WebUSB is a technology that allows a web-based application (like the MakeCode editor) to communicate directly with a USB device in a secure, permission-based way. It is a core feature of the Micro:bit ecosystem and is designed specifically to work in environments like this.

• The key: WebUSB does not use file transfer in the traditional sense. It's a direct, one-click "download" from the browser to the Micro:bit's flash memory. It bypasses the need for the hex file to ever be saved to the Chromebook's local file system, which avoids the school's security blocks.

The Steps for Micro:bit Success:

1. Acknowledge and Validate: Start by acknowledging the security concern and validating the IT department's actions. Frame your solution as a secure way to bypass the problem without compromising safety.

2. Confirm Chrome and Micro:bit Version:

   • Ensure the Chromebooks are running a recent version of Chrome (Version 90 or higher).

   • Confirm that the Micro:bits are V2 models, as these have more robust WebUSB support.

3. The New Workflow:

   • Students create their code in the MakeCode editor online.

   • They connect the Micro:bit to the Chromebook using a USB data cable (not just a charging cable). The Micro:bit should appear as a "MICROBIT" drive.

   • Instead of clicking the traditional "Download" button which saves a .hex file, they should use the "Download" option that includes the pairing icon (often a small USB symbol).

   • The browser will prompt the user for permission to connect to the Micro:bit. Once permission is granted, the code will be "flashed" directly to the device. The file is never saved to the Chromebook.

4. Engage with IT: This is the most crucial step. The IT administrator needs to be involved.

   • Explain the WebUSB functionality and why it is a secure solution.

   • Request that they review and, if necessary, configure the Chromebooks to allow WebUSB connections. This may be a simple setting in their management console.

   • This collaborative approach shows respect for their security protocols and ensures a lasting solution.
     

Conceptually: Micro:bit Coding with Chromebooks

• WebUSB and Chromebooks:
  The Micro:bit Educational Foundation and Microsoft's MakeCode platform have extensively documented the use of WebUSB for one-click downloading of code.

  • Micro:bit Official Documentation:
    Their support page and tutorials on WebUSB explain that it allows "one-click downloads to your micro:bit without installing an additional app or other software!" and "it also lets you directly receive data into the MakeCode editor from the micro:bit."

  • Google Chrome/Chromebook Help:
    Google's own documentation on Chromebooks and browser permissions includes settings for "Bluetooth devices" and "USB devices" which are the permissions WebUSB uses.
    This confirms that these features are a native and supported part of the ChromeOS ecosystem, and can be managed by school IT administrators.

The core principles of the advice are based on:

1. The function of software:
   Understanding that an .STL file is just a shape and requires a slicer to create G-code instructions.

2. Platform compatibility: Recognizing that Chromebooks are designed for web-based solutions, and that developers of educational technology (like MakeCode) have built tools (like WebUSB) to work within those constraints.

3. Security protocols: Acknowledging the school's security policies and framing solutions as secure workarounds rather than attempts to bypass security. This is a crucial element for getting IT buy-in.

In summary, the key to solving this problem is to transition the school's workflow to a browser-to-device model, whether it's for 3D printing or coding. This is the intended and most effective way to use these technologies in a modern, secure, and Chromebook-based learning environment.

Source: Google Gemini Pro