The LED's start

It is basically the 4th day and all of them have their LED connected to the breadboard and working. They are using Python to control the GPIO and should soon be able to write and modify the simple programs provided in the videos to better control the lights.

I have to say that the Youtube instruction is amazing - they were able to get to this point quickly. The next step is to have each student create a project goal. I will give them a day or so to play around then they have to come up with a project that they plan on making. As mentioned in another post they can work on the lighting program but they will still need to document it on their project plan.

Raspberry Pi - Day 1

THE PLAN - Give the kids the parts, share an editable google doc with some suggestions to get started and let them go.

THE GOALS

1. Use the Raspberry Pi to control some holiday lights that I will place in the lab
2. Use it to work a 7 segment LED to produce numbers 
3. Learn
4. Have fun

Well the first step was to learn how to properly spell raspberry - DONE

I have been playing around with the Raspberry Pi for the last few months and decided that I should have an elective that would include Python programming and the "maker" idea of assembling and using a Raspberry Pi - ($40+ computer). Aside from all the wonderful 21st century teaching and STEAM initiatives, it's just a great thing and I enjoy this kind of tinkering.


I ordered the following and made a little kit (so the $45 turns into a little more like $200+)

1. HDMI monitor
2. Raspberry Pi kit
3. Starter Pro Sensor input kit
4. Project starter kit 

I placed the kit into a box and gave one to each of the 3 students who chose to take the elective.

Basic kit

The Pi Kit as it came ($60)

They received the parts, unpacked and started putting things together!

Unpacking the monitors

Placing OS on SD card

Day 1 complete