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Getting kids started

e14 Contributor

I work at a small science & history museum in North Carolina. The science portion is aimed primarily at kids from 1st grade to 8th grade.  I am retired (so I have more time on my hands) and have the responsibility for new project development.  Because I have a background in programming (REXX & VBA) and a computer experience (OS/2 & Windows, but no Linux) I am really attracted to the RP.  We are planning on setting up some type of program to teach kids how to program (and how to use something besides Windows).

 

Here's my question:

I'm going to teach myself Python and I've installed Debian on a laptop so I can start learning the basics of Linux.  We have order the Pi (they seem to be back-ordered!) and I'll begin playing with it as soon as I receive it.  I'm a pretty good teacher and don't think I will have a problem teaching basic programming.  It's where to start, not with programming, but with the entire project.

 

One idea I had was to create an application myself that the kids would think was really cool, then tell them that's what we're going to build by the end of program. We'll get there in small steps making projects of ever-increasing complexity.

 

So, if anyone has experience introducing kids to the Pi and to programming, give me some direction, please.

 

 

Brian Grawburg

Imagination Station Science & History Museum

bgrawburg  at  imaginescience  dot  org

Parents

  • Hi Brian,

     

    Just clicked to reply, then realised or should that be realized you are in N Carolina USA !!

     

    Needless to say I'm in the UK, but anyway, I was reading your post and thinking, Did I write this? because I'm right there with you.  I have a 12, 8, and 6 year old, and I'm keen to use them as guinea pigs to test my non teaching skills!  I'm not computer minded nor scientific, just a desire to be part of Pi and go with the flow to see where it ends.

     

    Very much like you I've ordered my pi, again there seems to be a delay.. (is there an opportunity here..) I too, am learning, from scratch. (Oh, We'll come back to that in a mo) so via Learnpython the hard way.org, I studied the command prompt bit first now I'm up to ex12. So would be interested in sharing your ideas as we live so far apart!

     

    Anyway, I did want to say, my kids are taken with Scratch, being the modular graphic building program that comes with the O/S for Python, and is easily downloaded from the Internet as a stand alone. Now all I need to know is how to steer them from just wanting to make pretty pictures and use its animation qualities. The other thing you may find is if you google "teach your children python" there's an interesting looking blog from a fellow country man of yours in the first ten results.

     

    So take care, and I look forward to seeing Raspberry Pi progress with the kids across the world too.

     

    Shutz

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    WOW, what a coincidence.  Yes, we must keep in touch.

    Right now I'm going through the agony - yes, agony - of installing Debian Linux on an old Dell

    8500 Inspiron. (Oh, for the funds to buy one pre-configured.)

     

    Thanks for the tip on Scratch. I heard the name mentioned on a local (60 miles away) Linux

    user group that recently held a Raspberry Pi meeting, but did not know what it was.

     

    Now, where in the UK are you?

     

     

    Regards,

    Brian

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    Hi Brian,

     

    Ok, Like I said I'm not particular clever on this bit, i thought I was installing Ubunto onto a virtual drive on my Windows 7 laptop, only to find i had partitioned my hard drive and now have dual operating systems. At least thats what I think has happened. I did this to get closer to Linux, and to give me aheads up on Raspberry Pi.

     

    If you look at Scratch, or rather let the kids look at it, they will just run with it, I'm wondering or guessing, do you check out Mag Pi, the Raspberry's online mag, they have about 9 issues now, and each has Scratch "games" to make. it could be a foundation for you to build from, there is also a Python Pit in it, where by they give you coding for more and more complex programs.

     

    Ok, Need to catch a train, as its time to head home,

    oh i live in the West Midlands town/city called Hereford! I'm sure I have a GPS location for it somewhere LOL.

     

    Take care

    Paul.

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    Thanks, shutz, for bringing "The MagPi" to my attention.

     

    Jim

Reply Children
  • in reply to Bobalong

    Ok, so where are all the Brits!!

    Sorry, I am so much into the Pi, I keep forgetting that this is a general electronics/ computing community. I took Brian's original post as a request to help kids, and then with my own personal views of Pi (in that it is THE computer for kids), I raced off down this alley! I note Robert's reply re operational concerns, but the Pi team are trying to encourage kids with simple programs and programming, so I thought I would try python out anyway. Now I'm aware of the whitespace issue, I'm sure we can come up with a solution to it, as we go.

     

    Love the way you guys can say 300 miles is just next door!!

  • in reply to e14 Contributor

    The MagPi is a great resource but I'd also strongly recommend that you download and take a look at the Raspberry Pi Educational Manual, it is Free !! and will provide you more insight about the Rpi for education, scratch, etc.

     

    Scratch is a great and very intutitive language to introduce young kids to the basics of programming, it is a graphic visual language much better for the job than the old Logo, older kids when they understand the basics and the building blocks of a program can switch to Python that will help them grasp concepts for structured programming without having to dig too much into C or other langs.

     

    There are also many other publications that can help you like Getting started guides/books.

     

    Around here I'm in the process of getting something started, I'll share what we learn.

     

    -J

  • in reply to jamodio

    Thanks, Jamodio,

     

    I'm looking at the Manual now!! Interested that you seem to think younger kids will be better with Scratch. I guess you are right, as I keep seeing the world thru a grown up's eyes. Although I have two under 11's I can't seem to get down to their level.  The 6 year old loves making pictures with Scratch, so I guess i've just got to nudge him to make them do something with animation!! 

     

    From the RPi Manual I found an organisation over here in UK, that is promoting computers in schools, so will keep an eye on what they can offer too.

     

    Thanks for all you guys and all your guidance.

     

    Shutz.