Introduction to
Physical Computing
and Robotics
CS4TX Austin
13 September 2017
@HalSpeed @cs4tx
slideshare.net/hal_speed
or halspeed.com

2
Thank You Sponsors!

3
https://www.tcea.org/blog/hurricane-harvey-assistance/

“Creating Cool Stuff”
 Sue Sentence, et al. King’s College London
 Physical computing in school
 Motivation through physical computing
 Tangibility supports learning
 Opportunities for Collaboration
 Opportunities for Creativity
4 Source: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/65615345/creating_cool_stuff_POSTPRINT_to_share.pdf

70% increase in the number of
girls that said they would
definitely choose computing
Source: BBC

Micro:bit
 http://microbit.org/
 ~$15
 MakeCode
 Python
 ScratchX
6

Third-Party Curricula
Microsoft MakeCode Intro to CS
https://aka.ms/intro2cs
PLTW Gateway:
Computer Science for
Innovators and Makers
https://www.pltw.org/our-
programs/pltw-gateway-
curriculum#curriculum-4
8. Coordinate Grid System
9. Booleans
10. Music and Arrays
11. Bits, Bytes, and Binary
12. Radio
13. Arrays
14. Independent Final
Project
1. Making
2. Algorithms
3. Variables
4. Conditionals
5. Iteration
6. Review/Mini-Project
7. Coordinate Grid System

8

Adafruit Circuit Playground
Classic
 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3000
 ~$20
 Not compatible with MakeCode
 Preloaded with Code.org firmware
 Code.org CS Discoveries Unit 6
Express
 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333
 ~$25
 Compatible with MakeCode (beta)
 Not preloaded with Code.org firmware
9

Code & Go
 https://www.learningresources.com/
 ~$25
10

Arduino Uno R3
 https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Products
 ~$25
11

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
 https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/
 ~$35
12

Fisher-Price Code-a-pillar
 http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/brands/think-and-
learn/products/index.html
 ~$35
 Ages 3-6
13

Bloxels
 http://home.bloxelsbuilder.com/
 ~$35
14

Edison
 https://meetedison.com/
 ~$49
 EdBlocks
 EdWare
 EdPy
15

Makeblock Neuron
 http://neuron.makeblock.com/
 $49+
16

Dash and Dot
 https://www.makewonder.com/
 $50+
 Code.org aligned K-5 curriculum
 Swift Playgrounds
17

Ozobot - http://ozobot.com/
bit
 ~$54
 Ages 6-10
 OzoBlockly
evo
 ~$99
 Ages 8-14
 OzoBlockly
18

Google AIY Voice Kit
 https://aiyprojects.withgoogle.com/
 ~$60
19

TI-Innovator Hub
 https://education.ti.com/en/products/micro-controller/ti-innovator
 ~$70
20

Osmo
 https://www.playosmo.com/
 $78+
 Ages 5-12
21

Kano Pixel Kit
 https://kano.me/store/us/products/pixel-kit
 ~$80
 Ages 6+
22

Bee-Bot
 https://www.bee-bot.us/
 $90+
 Terrapin Logo
23

Dexter Industries
 https://www.dexterindustries.com/
 $90+
 Bloxter
 Python
24

Makeblock - http://www.makeblock.com/
mBot
 ~$95
 mBlock
mBot Ranger
 ~$190
 mBlock
25

Finch
 https://www.finchrobot.com/
 ~$99
 Grades K-12
26

Cubit
 https://cubit.cc/
 $99+
 Ages 6+
27

Sphero
 http://www.sphero.com/
 $100+
 Sphero EDU
 Swift Playgrounds
 Tynker
28

Jimu Robot
 https://jimurobots.com/
 $100+
 Ages 8+
 Swift Playgrounds
29

Quirkbot
 https://www.quirkbot.com/
 ~$119
 Quirkbot CODE
30

IBM TJBot – A Watson Maker Kit
 http://research.ibm.com/tjbot/
 ~$150
31

Pi-Top
 https://pi-top.com/
 $150+
 pi-topCODER
32

LEGO Boost
 https://www.lego.com/en-us/boost
 ~$160
 Ages 7-12
 Designed for home use
33

Cubelets
 https://www.modrobotics.com/cubelets/
 $160+
 Grades PK-12
34

Marty the Robot
 https://robotical.io/
 ~$169
 Scratch
 Python/C++
35

LEGO WeDo
 https://education.lego.com/en-us/elementary/
 ~$176
 LEGO WeDo software
 Tynker
36

Boe-Bot and Scribbler
 https://www.parallax.com/
 ~$179
 Grades 5-9
 BlocklyProp
 NICERC curricula
37

Root
38
 http://www.codewithroot.com/
 ~$200
 Ages 4+

Cubetto
 https://www.primotoys.com/
 ~$225
 Ages 3+
39

Kibo
 http://kinderlabrobotics.com/
 $229+
 Ages 4-7
40

K’NEX Education Robotics Building System
 https://www.knex.com/knex-education-robotics-building-system-set
 ~$230
 Ages 10+
41

VEX IQ
 https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/education/iq-curriculum
 $280+
 ROBOTC
 Modkit for VEX
42

littleBits Code Kit
 https://shop.littlebits.cc/products/code-kit
 ~$300
 Grades 3-8
 Curriculum aligned with
 CSTA
 NGSS
43

LEGO Mindstorms EV3
 https://education.lego.com/en-us/middle-school/
 ~$390
 Ages 10+
 EV3 Programmer App
 Swift Playgrounds
44

Next Meeting
Cybersecurity