What works and is difficult with different educational computing technology in primary education — and how does the Raspberry Pi fit in?
Presentation at the Raspberry Pi Big Birthday Bash 2016
introduce myself
mobile software developer, dad & hacker
started a code club at primary school in St Albans in Feb 2012
almost the same time the Raspberry Pi was launched!
have continued and grown the club over the last 4 years
we now have three clubs at the school all run entirely by volunteers
quick run through of what has worked for the children at Fleetville
some things that are hard for us
at the end I’d like to gather some feedback on what works for you
obligatory Scratch slide
this is where we started
after a year or so, kids want something more
introduced to Code Club HTML projects last year
started using recently
really accessible: zero to web in 1 hour
we strayed off the Code Club curriculum…
nearly all kids in primary go mad for minecraft
even if they have to program to build things
these are turtles that you program in blocks or Lua
could talk for hours on minecraft in schools, but moving on…
learn simple programs in javascript by fighting robots
works with iPads & web browsers
and some hardware
makeymakey great but expensive…
it’s just an arduino but costs more than a Pi!
works with Scratch
version 2 looks really good
but like all LEGO, it’s very expensive
iPad app to program robotic ball
kids love it
…but also expensive (and needs recent iPad!)
programmable, 3d-printed racing cars
lots of potential, but still in development
POP = principles of programming
were lucky to help out with prototyping these
program with blockly in web browser: install using audio port
lots of potential but not yet available
LEGO Mindstorms is more for secondary
but can be made accessible using interactive Python
access via a web page
hook: get the children excited and interested right away
creativity: keeps the excitement and engagement going
collaboration: supporting each other, competing to do better
no computer lab – space at a premium: all laptops & iPads
little money for specific computing equipment:
expensive items must be cross-curricular here the money has gone on classroom refurbishment
needs to work: teachers have trouble enough with laptops, logins & wifi!
this is a saturday club, run by parents with donated screens & keyboards
took 20 minutes to set up for 2hr session
just about feasible for weekend; no chance for in-school
inspired several children to get Pi’s at home (or to start using them)
here’s something I think could work
web-based via Pi Zero on WiFi or local network
edit an HTML page and program the lights
I’d love to find out what works (or not) for you
and what have you learned this weekend that you’d like to try out?
retrospective: reflect on the previous iteration and identify improvements
I’ll post the results on twitter
I’d love to find out what works (or not) for you
and what have you learned this weekend that you’d like to try out?
retrospective: reflect on the previous iteration and identify improvements
I’ll post the results on twitter
I’d love to find out what works (or not) for you
and what have you learned this weekend that you’d like to try out?
retrospective: reflect on the previous iteration and identify improvements
I’ll post the results on twitter