How to Get Kids interested?

Hello Colin, I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I have been very much thinking along the same lines as you. Morgaine verbalises what I have been thinking about to myself but couldn't come to a term for and that is 'self selecting'

Even at my mid 40's age, the Pi excites me with the possibilities. I have said elsewhere that if this had ben around when I was a teenager and looking longingly at a commodore 64, I would have given my right arm and probably an internal organ to have got my hands on something like this. I still remember seeing my friends ZX-80 and being amazed he actually had a *computer* in his bedroom. It lit a spark in me, as I think it will have done for many people on here, that is still yet to be extinguished.

I also wish that the internet had been around when I was that age, as the myriad possibilities to learn new things would have almost certainly taken me in a different direction to the one I am now in. My family were not particularly technical but I am happy reading 'stuff'' and working it out for myself and the internet would have fed that no end. As it was, the local Library was my best source for information.

I don't have my own children, but have many many neices and nephews and despite me trying, they are just not interested in computers or computing, over and above using Facebook. For them, something like this is a non-starter.

Now, I was talking to a friend at work, and she was talking about her son, who is interested in electronics - this is the sort of person that the Pi is going to appeal to. I mentioned the Pi and also the Arduino, and she became very interested so I am sure this will capture her son :-) I may well 'donate' an Arduino or TI MSP device to see how he gets on with it, but I am sure it will go down well. Co-indentally, his father is...a techie !

So, what am I trying to say after this ramble ? I think, as Morgaine says above, that we can't force kids to want to use it. Many of the things that the Pi can possibly do can be done by a mobile phone, probably better and faster. My relatively inexpensive mobile has a dual core processor running at 1.2 Ghz and could run rings around the Pi power wise. I think what the Pi can do, is to improve the options and chances for people that are the self selected techie - the poorer family that may not be able to afford a second PC, or even a first PC for the child to play on, could probably fund a raspberry Pi, along with the bits that are needed coming from aunts and uncles. The kids that may be on the periphery of an interest may be wiling to get one as a birthday present to 'try it out' and then become hooked, either directly in terms of the technology for the technologies sake, or for a person interested in design that can see possibilities in the area of wearable computing, or even in a year or two as the 'internet of things' gathers pace, as a piece of that jigsaw.

I'm not involved in teaching, as I believe Morgaine is, so the only thing I have to base my thoughts on are myself, and observation of family members. I don't think we will suddenly be overrun with people with computing degrees, but I do think that it may cause a small increase in applications for computer science courses, from people that otherwise might not have had the chance for thier own computer and also that the applications that would have happened will be from more capable candidates with a broader and more in-depth knowledge and interest than there otherwise would have been.

Also, I think the education system needs to move away from ICT, which as I understand it is currently more or less 'using MS office 101' to something more technology based like it was back in my day. You may not get as many people on the course, but those that are on it will be more engaged.

Hello Colin, I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I have been very much thinking along the same lines as you. Morgaine verbalises what I have been thinking about to myself but couldn't come to a term for and that is 'self selecting'

Even at my mid 40's age, the Pi excites me with the possibilities. I have said elsewhere that if this had ben around when I was a teenager and looking longingly at a commodore 64, I would have given my right arm and probably an internal organ to have got my hands on something like this. I still remember seeing my friends ZX-80 and being amazed he actually had a *computer* in his bedroom. It lit a spark in me, as I think it will have done for many people on here, that is still yet to be extinguished.

I also wish that the internet had been around when I was that age, as the myriad possibilities to learn new things would have almost certainly taken me in a different direction to the one I am now in. My family were not particularly technical but I am happy reading 'stuff'' and working it out for myself and the internet would have fed that no end. As it was, the local Library was my best source for information.

I don't have my own children, but have many many neices and nephews and despite me trying, they are just not interested in computers or computing, over and above using Facebook. For them, something like this is a non-starter.

Now, I was talking to a friend at work, and she was talking about her son, who is interested in electronics - this is the sort of person that the Pi is going to appeal to. I mentioned the Pi and also the Arduino, and she became very interested so I am sure this will capture her son :-) I may well 'donate' an Arduino or TI MSP device to see how he gets on with it, but I am sure it will go down well. Co-indentally, his father is...a techie !

So, what am I trying to say after this ramble ? I think, as Morgaine says above, that we can't force kids to want to use it. Many of the things that the Pi can possibly do can be done by a mobile phone, probably better and faster. My relatively inexpensive mobile has a dual core processor running at 1.2 Ghz and could run rings around the Pi power wise. I think what the Pi can do, is to improve the options and chances for people that are the self selected techie - the poorer family that may not be able to afford a second PC, or even a first PC for the child to play on, could probably fund a raspberry Pi, along with the bits that are needed coming from aunts and uncles. The kids that may be on the periphery of an interest may be wiling to get one as a birthday present to 'try it out' and then become hooked, either directly in terms of the technology for the technologies sake, or for a person interested in design that can see possibilities in the area of wearable computing, or even in a year or two as the 'internet of things' gathers pace, as a piece of that jigsaw.

I'm not involved in teaching, as I believe Morgaine is, so the only thing I have to base my thoughts on are myself, and observation of family members. I don't think we will suddenly be overrun with people with computing degrees, but I do think that it may cause a small increase in applications for computer science courses, from people that otherwise might not have had the chance for thier own computer and also that the applications that would have happened will be from more capable candidates with a broader and more in-depth knowledge and interest than there otherwise would have been.

Also, I think the education system needs to move away from ICT, which as I understand it is currently more or less 'using MS office 101' to something more technology based like it was back in my day. You may not get as many people on the course, but those that are on it will be more engaged.