Hello there I've been asked to come up with a course to run during my local summer school programme using the Raspberry Pi, Arduino or something similar. It'll be for five days, 10am-3pm, for 11-18 yr olds. With maybe 10-12 kids or less. I've thought about doing some programming 101 experimenting with motors, LEDs, potentiometers, LDRs and maybe finish it up with a 3x3 LED matrix dice. I've had a long day and my mate (organiser) calls me at 00:30 to tell me this. I'm sure I'll read this in the morning with great criticism. Is anyone willing to offer ideas or opinion? Thanks.
Base your course around a book such as 'beginning arduino' or a series of sketches (there is no sense in reinventing the wheel) but set extensions to each lesson to enrich the learning experience for those involved: Extension 1 - modify the code to do something a little different Extension 2 - write new code which uses this code (and maybe earlier code) to do something more advanced The other alternative is to have an overall goal e.g. a internet linked data logger and then work on it a piece at a time (Lesson 1 - using sensors, Lesson 2 - constructing a clock circuit, Lesson 3 - Writing to SD card, etc With a few lessons at the end to tie all of these lessons together and build an internet linked data logger). Pitfalls: 1) Make sure the code works for every example/sketch that they will use. 2) For the Arduino you need to make sure that the correct libraries are either installed or easily available to all users I hope this helps, Adam
If the kids have already had exposure to these devices, ignore this : Perhaps a primitive suggestion, but how about starting the course with day 1: make a fully functional internet pc. Might seem a bit simplistic, but a lot of kids wouldn't have a clue where to start, nor understand about storage devices. Programming the things is all well and good, but a basic understanding of what the OS is and does is just as important (if not more so)
