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TECHNOLOGY in Education
TECHNOLOGY in Education magazine first introduced readers to the tiny Raspberry
Pi computer last year. Since then, teacher Paul Fuller has been road testing the device
in the classroom. Here is his verdict.
The Homebrew Computer Club
In 1976, a university drop-out from California named Steve Wozniak joined the
Homebrew Computer Club, a group of electronics enthusiasts with an interest in the
emerging field of personal computing. There, Wozniak produced an unattractive yet
highly programmable collection of circuits.
This device had no case, no screen, no keyboard and no obvious immediate use. He
named it the .Apple I.. When Wozniak teamed up with another Steve (Jobs, this
time), their combination of engineering wizardry and marketing smarts laid the
foundation for what is, today, one of the world.s largest and most successful computer
companies.
In the 37 years that have passed, the circuitry that powers the world.s computers has
become increasingly invisible. In an era when electronics are present everywhere but
visible nowhere, the Raspberry Pi is an opportunity to take students behind the
magician.s curtain, back to the days of the Homebrew Computer Club, and let them
discover the science behind the magic.
The Raspberry Pi: What is it?
Put simply, the Raspberry Pi is a $35 computer the size of a credit card. Nothing more
and certainly nothing less.
Nothing but the computer is included in the purchase price. Like the Apple I before it,
the Raspberry Pi has no keyboard, no mouse and no screen.
If schools don.t have the necessary additional hardware (and most will have
storerooms full of the stuff), a starter kit can be purchased for around $110, including
the computer.
Most importantly from a teaching point of view, the Raspberry Pi has no case.
Nothing is hidden. Every aspect of the computer can be seen, touched, modified,
hacked and, yes, sometimes even broken by students.
The price tag changes everything
Traditionally, schools have regarded computers as valuable assets to be used sensibly
and carefully protected.
This made sense when devices cost in excess of a thousand dollars. However, when a
computer costs $35, it becomes acceptable for students and teachers to .tinker. in
ways that would never have been permissible before.
Want to create a wearable electronic artwork? Go for it! Want to try and use the
Raspberry Pi to run a sprinkler system? Sure! Want to build a motion detector for
your bedroom door? Why not?
It is this changed teacher mindset that is the greatest benefit of using the Raspberry Pi.
Rather than seeing learning as a top-down teacher-driven process (with the overriding
priority of not damaging the computers under any circumstances), learning becomes a
shared journey.
When a project fails, even if the Raspberry Pi breaks permanently, this failure is
simply seen as feedback that will help the learner to eventually achieve their goal.
Will the Raspberry Pi replace your school.s computer lab? Probably not. Its processor
is not terribly powerful and, let.s face it, build-your-own computing is not for
everyone. But can it permanently change the way that you and your students think
about learning? Absolutely.Using a Raspberry Pi in the classroom
Most teachers will be familiar with the .curse of knowledge.. Experts in a field can
find it incredibly difficult to put themselves in the shoes of a beginner. However, a
new technology like the Raspberry Pi levels the playing field.
Both teacher and learner can become wonderfully lost in the authentic experience of
learning something new. This does not mean that activities lack purpose or direction.
Rather, the freshness of the learning in the teacher.s mind enables them to anticipate
roadblocks and to vividly describe the process by which these obstacles can be
overcome.
Instead of truncating the process of learning by providing .the. correct answer, the
teacher works alongside students to solve challenges together, with students often
finding the more elegant solution. Here are some examples of activities that can
provide this sort of rich learning experience: a) Assembling the Raspberry Pi: While it
may be tempting to provide the devices to students pre-assembled, the process of
setting it up is itself a valuable learning experience. Students learn the principles of
input and output, data storage and basic circuitry. They also begin to appreciate the
machine.s potential, realising that, like a Lego set, there is no single correct way to
assemble it.
b) Programming: using Scratch Once the students have set up the device with a
keyboard, mouse and monitor (the traditional setup for beginners), it.s time to start
programming! Developed by the world famous MIT Media Lab, Scratch is a
programming language that is specifically designed for absolute beginners. Rather
than writing lines of code, students use pre-prepared .blocks. of code that click
together on the screen, again, just like Lego. By combining these blocks in creative
ways, students can create games, animations and apps. These can be played on the
monitor or shared with the world via the Scratch website.
c) Create your own contraptions: While it is great fun to use Scratch to control avatars
on a screen, real power comes from making things happen in real life. Lego (who
else?) produces a set of sensors, parts and motors called the WeDo kit. This set, and
others like it, can interface with Scratch to provide input and receive commands.
Students can then create simple machines that respond to stimuli from their
environment. Creating, say, a burglar alarm that sounds when a door is opened is
actually quite straightforward when you have access to these components.
d) Program using Python: For more advanced learners, the Raspberry Pi includes
Python, a professional-grade object-oriented programming language. Using Python,
students can write scripts that perform a range of useful functions such as serving
high-definition video from a USB hard drive direct to a plasma TV using the
Raspberry Pi.s HDMI output.
e) Student-initiated projects: The device includes a GPIO (General Purpose
Input/Output) port. Using this port is an advanced skill but, once students understand
the basic principles, they can attach an enormous range of electronic devices to act as
either inputs or outputs. LED lights, motors, microphones, thermometers, speakers,
and cameras can all be attached and automated. Once students attain this level of
understanding, it is time for them to initiate their own projects, creating something
completely new (and potentially marketable) along the way.
f) Go mobile: With its tiny size and equally miniscule power consumption, the
Raspberry Pi is virtually crying out to be used in unusual places.For example, the
device fits neatly inside a teddy bear and, together with a motor and battery, can bring
a child.s toy to life. In a car, it could act as a music server. Using conductive thread,
students can literally sew a circuit, creating their own LED-embedded fashions. There
is no limit to the possibilities.
How do I get started? Visit an online store such as www.buyraspberrypi.com.au,
place an order but be prepared to wait several weeks. Demand for these devices is
very high! Be sure to check that you have all of the required accessories (240V power
supply, USB keyboard, USB mouse, SD memory card, HDMI cable, monitor and
ethernet cable or wireless adapter). Spend some time experimenting and you will
quickly find yourself hooked. At that point, you will probably want to convince your
principal to purchase a class set. But don.t send them a written submission. Walk into
their office wearing an LED-embedded Raspberry Pi-powered vest that spells out
your message! Even if they.re not convinced by your fashion sense, the $35 price tag
will certainly win them over.
****************************************************************************
* This article appears in the Term 2 issue of Technology in Education *
* a standalone magazine inserted into the May issue of Australian Teacher *
* Magazine. Technology in Education is published every term. The latest *
* magazine is available to download free on iOS and Android devices. *
****************************************************************************
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