So what is this unassuming little board? It's name is the BBC micro:bit, and it is a little computer you can write programs for. It has various gadgets like buttons and lights that you can use to do all kinds of fun stuff. There's even a compass!

In this guide we'll briefly go over the main features of the BBC micro:bit, just so you have an idea what's going on. The main web site is at www.microbit.org where you can go to find more information.

The BBC part of the name stands for British Broadcasting Corporation. There's a lot of history to why the BBC would get involved with making a little computer. But the short version is they did. And then they gave it away to every year 7 student in the British schools.

And now the little computer is making its way across the pond and into America. That's right, it's sorta like a British invasion.