Mama Anna Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I've got a Tinker Fairy for a daughter. Dd 8 loves making, creating, etc. She's much like my brother. So, when my brother came to visit last Thanksgiving, obsessing about the Raspberry Pi and telling me in detail (like he always does) about all the uses he was going to put it to and suggesting all sorts of ways we could use it in our schooling, I was sort of interested for dd8's sake. There's only one problem: I don't know much about this stuff. I come from a computer-savvy family. I've messed around with the C:prompt on a Windows machine before, but that's about it. My family members don't live close enough for me to just send her over there for an afternoon each week, and I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable if I could. (Same kid who wondered aloud this afternoon, "I wonder what sulfuric acid tastes like?" I wouldn't want one of my blessed brothers helping her find out. :) But anyway . . .) These are also the brothers who communicate really well, but only face-to-face. (Skype doesn't count.) So, should I invest in a Raspberry Pi? If I do, how do I assemble a kit that will allow her to actually make stuff? We've got an extra monitor and it wouldn't be a problem to get a keyboard and mouse. But what about the electronics? How . . . ? Books? Websites? Kits? Please help! Mama Anna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daijobu Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 If you search the forums on "raspberry pi" you'll find my recent post on the subject, along with some others. I'm happy to answer other questions, but we are just beginning on that path ourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 We have a Kano. It is a Raspberry Pi kit that has all the components you need to get started and an operating system designed for kids. It is pretty cool, although we haven't gotten very far with it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Anna Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 If you search the forums on "raspberry pi" you'll find my recent post on the subject, along with some others. I'm happy to answer other questions, but we are just beginning on that path ourselves. Thanks, daijobu - your book recommendations may be just what I've been looking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef03 Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 We've not tried the RasPi yet, just the Arduino, but I was looking at their website earlier today and came across some good lesson plans on: http://www.raspberrypi.org/resources/teach/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 We were less than pleased with ours. Despite me taking several computer sci classes and being good at computers, we couldn't get the OI#@*Y thing to work. Maybe it was a dud, but I don't have the cash to buy another. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertflower Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 You need a Raspberry Pi and a starter kit. Here are 2 good sites. 1. http://www.adafruit.com/category/105 2. http://www.makershed.com/collections/raspberry-pi You can get a beginners book from the makershed site. Hth! ETA: I forgot to add that I believe there's a tutorial on the first website I mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Anna Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 You need a Raspberry Pi and a starter kit. Here are 2 good sites. 1. http://www.adafruit.com/category/105 2. http://www.makershed.com/collections/raspberry-pi You can get a beginners book from the makershed site. Hth! ETA: I forgot to add that I believe there's a tutorial on the first website I mentioned. Thanks, desertflower! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather7 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Our 12-year-old has a Raspberry Pi and loves the programming, tinkering, etc. He loves computers but I honestly have no clue what he is doing. He explains things he has created/built and I think it's wonderful but it is a foreign language to me. Thankfully, I also have a computer-savvy brother who can speak his language. We don't live nearby but when we do visit, the two of them talk for hours and share ideas. I think it's something your child (or an adult!) will grow into, learning as you go. It helps to have a friend or family member/mentor to bounce ideas of off if you're like me. If you know something about computer languages, you'd have a big advantage. :) It was the best Christmas gift two years ago for him. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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