Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX II User manual

Getting Started with the TI-NspireTM CX II and the BBC micro:bit
Overview:These three steps willprepare yourTI-Nspire CXII calculator to programthe micro:bit usingthe
calculator’s built-in Python application.The micro:bitcan be programmed using the standardmicro:bit
commands listed on the micro:bit documents website.
Required Equipment:
•TI-Nspire CX II Graphing Calculator
•TI-Nspire CX Premium Teacher Software Get a 90-day trial here
•BBC micro:bit
•TI-Nspire CX II <-> micro:bit USB cable. Request a cable here (While supplies last. Other restrictions apply; see
form.)
•Computer <-> micro:bit USB cable, supplied with micro:bit
•Computer <->calculator USBcable, supplied with the calculator
Required Software:
•TI-Nspire CX II Graphing Calculator OS5.3 or higher. Get thelatest OS here, and a how-to video here
•TI-Nspire CX Premium Teacher Software version 5.3. Get thelatest versionhere.
•microbit.tns (Part of the .zip file download)
•TI_Runtime.hex(Part of the .zip file download)
•My first program.tns (Part of the .zip file download)
Directions:
1. Load TI_Runtime.hexon the micro:bit card:
a. Locate the TI_Runtime.hexin the download folder.
b. Connect the BBCmicro:bitto your computer using the cable that came with the micro:bit card.
c. Drag and drop or copy the TI_Runtime.hexto the micro:bit; this isthe same as transferringany
file to a USB flash storage device such as the “thumb drive”. Once the transferis complete, the
5x5 LED display on the micro:bit card willshow a Texas logo.

d. Success looks like this→
e. Disconnect the micro:bit card fromthe computer.
2. Install the micro:bit module onto the TI-Nspire CXII calculator:
a. Open the TI-Nspire CX PremiumTeacher desktop software on yourcomputer andwithin the
desktop software, open the microbit.tns module file fromthe download folder.
b. Connect the TI-Nspire CXII to the Computer with the Computer to unit cable and transfer the
microbit.tns to the calculator by selecting “Save to Handheld”fromthe file menu.
c. You will see a dialog box titled, “Document Received” when the file is transferred. Select “OK”.
d. Repeat steps b through d to also transfermyfirst program.tns to the calculator.

e. After the transfer is complete, disconnect the calculator fromthe computerand openthe
microbit.tns file on the calculator and read the directions (Press the Home/On key, then
“Browse”, and then select “microbit.tns” to open it).
f. Advance to the next page 1.2 by pressing ctrl +clickpad to the right. Select Install as Python
module fromthe Tools menu. Once the module has been installed, you will no longer see it
appear in the Browse folder.
g. Success looks like this→

3. Run the test program:
a. Connect the calculator to the micro:bit cardwith the TI-Nspire CX II to the micro:bit cable and
open my first program.tns on the calculator (Pressthe Home/On key, then select “Browse”,
select “my first program.tns” to open).
b. Press the [menu] key and then select Run(Ctrl+R) fromthe Run menu.
c. Success looks like this →
Congratulations! You have successfullyprepared the TI-Nspire CXII graphing calculator andmicro:bit card for
programming in Python. Here are a few next steps for going further.
a. Complete the Skill Builders and Application in Unit 6 of 10 Minutes of Code (when available)
with Python found here
b. Try some of the activities on the micro:bit’s Make it:Code it website.

FAQ’s
•Tobreak a continuous loop programon the calculator andsoftware (common when using “while True:”
when following coding examples on the micro:bit Make it: code it website).
oPress [F12] on PC.
oPress and hold [fn] while then also pressing [f5] on Mac.
oCalculator: press and hold the “on” key.
oTo avoid this we suggest to instead use while get_key !=”esc”:
▪while get_key != “esc”: is found under the Commands menu in the BBCmicro:bit
module men selections.
•If you have difficulty dragging-droppingthe hexfile, instead use the micro:bit Python IDEto flash the
TI_Runtime.hex. Go to https://python.microbit.org/v/2.0
•If you run into any problems:
oProblems installing the .tns module file or flashing the hexfile, contact TI-Cares Customer
Support: https://education.ti.com/en/customer-support/support-worldwide
oTroubleshooting issues, coding andothertopics, contact the TISTEMTeam: Stem-
[e-mail]