Mobile Participatory Simulation of COVID-19 Transmission Using the micro:bit

This article reports on a study that used micro:bits to create a mobile participatory simulation of COVID-19 infection. It outlines the motivations, design and implementation of the simulation as well as providing some reflections on a series of workshops that tested the simulation with different audiences. It explains some of the design and implementation decisions made in the development of the code and discusses the intended learning outcomes from participating in the simulation. The study demonstrates the potential for current low-cost electronic devices to support mobile participatory simulations that previously would have been difficult and expensive to facilitate.