The document discusses using Raspberry Pi computers to promote the teaching of computer science. It describes how the Raspberry Pi Foundation aims to increase interest in computing through affordable computers and computational thinking projects. The presenter outlines plans to develop teaching resources over the summer with student interns, but availability of the Raspberry Pi and internships caused delays. Undergraduate coursework and final year projects are suggested as alternative ways to create teaching materials.
2. What?
• Foundation
• The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a UK charity that exists to
promote the study of computer science and to put the
fun back into learning computing
• Justification
• The justification behind this was the fact that the uptake
of computing in schools and universities has been in
steady decline.
• Inspiration
• RPi is designed to push kids beyond basic computer
literacy – and to expose them to ‘computational thinking’.
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 2
3. Why?
• 2012 is a year of educational reforms
• Teachers need resources and support to
facilitate these educational changes
• Raspberry Pi will offer a foundation to
further the study of Computer Science
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 3
5. Who?
• Staff and Students
• Teachers and Pupils
• Schools, Colleges and Universities
• Other Organisations
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 5
6. Where?
• Online
• In school
• At home
• Competitions
• Workshops/Mentoring
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 6
7. When?
• Spring
– Setting the scene: organising, etc.
• Summer
– Internship activity: co-production of resources
• Autumn
– Delivering resources
– Delivering workshops and CPD?
• Winter and beyond
– Further work?
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 7
8. What Next?
The proposal received very positive feedback but there were some
thingsthat needed to be clarified beforefunding could be awarded.
Thesewere:
1. Identifying a realistic timeline for the project
2. Stating the specific outcomes and deliverables for the project
3. Identifying the specific roles and tasks to be undertaken by the
interns
4. Validation and testing of the deliverables by:
1. pupils
2. teachers
3. education authorities
5. What’s next: some idea of future plans to take the project to
the next stage
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9. Timeline
• Pi volume ordering not possible until
September 2012
• Therefore only pilot schemes in 2012
– Resource development for pilot schemes
– Three-month development schedule
• Mid-June to Mid-September
• Developers: four student interns plus one academic
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10. Outcomes and Deliverables
• Teaching and CPD resources. For instance:
– Contributions to Raspberry Pi community efforts
• Raspberry Pi User Guide
• Pi-related programming and computer systems material
• Project-based resources, particularly in the ‘physical
computing’ domain
• Repository and annotated index of Pi resources available
elsewhere
– Course material for teachers’ CPD
– Tailored SD card images with pre-prepared
resources
– Workshop/conference
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11. Interns’ Roles and Tasks
• Evaluation of, and contribution to, a Raspberry Pi User
Guide.
• Identifying key requirements for curriculum development.
• Creating and maintaining a repository of Pi resources.
• Development of thePi programming and computer
systems material.
• Development of Pi ‘physical computing’ and project
resources.
• Helping to plan, resource and deliver a CPD
workshop/conference.
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 11
12. However…
• Raspberry Pi availability was a major hurdle
• Raspberry Pi is still a ‘work in progress’
• All four interns that helped develop the
proposal secured jobs elsewhere! B-(
• Pi-oneering may still be Pi-in-the-sky!
• But there is hope…
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 12
13. Hope…
• Pi-oneering in Summer 2013 may be a
possibility
• Undergraduate coursework and projects
– Incorporating the Pi into undergraduate
coursework to produce Pi-oneering resources
– Final year projects that use the Pi as a core
component and that deliver, and document, Pi-
related resources
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14. Undergraduate Coursework
• CS 413 Embedded Systems: Group Project
– Scenario: Each group will be assigned an
Arduino device and, optionally, a Raspberry Pi.
Using the device(s) as the basis for an
embedded system ‘gadget’ each group is
encouraged to come up with their own idea for
the product and to plan, design, implement and
document the gadget.
• Examples from 2011 (Arduino-based)…
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21. Final Year Projects
Preamble to all Raspberry Pi Final Year
Projects:
This project can be based on a Raspberry
Piand, if so, the final outcome should, ideally,
support (some of) the aims of the Pi-
oneeringInitiative by creating software and/or
hardware exemplars that can be used to
enthuse school pupils to undertake computer-
related studies at undergraduate level and to
also provide resources for future undergraduate
students.
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22. Final Year Projects
• ESCaPADE - Embedded Systems Coursework and
Practical Assignments Development Environment
• HEARTH - Home Energy Analyser and Remote
Telemetry Hardware
• PiVoTAL - Pi-controlled Vehicle, or Tank,
Autonomously Led
• ICARUS - Image Capture, Analysis and Recognition
of Unusual Scenes
• Pizzazz – a blinkenlightsinstallationto produce an
'attractive combination of energy and style'
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 23
23. Shameless Plug ;)
Christmas Lecture in Computer Science
for Schools
Wednesday 5th and 12thDecember 2012
Raspberry Pi and Arduino:
Pioneers of the Open Hardware &
Software Frontier
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 24
24. Christmas Lecture
The affordability, accessibility and adaptability of
Raspberry Pi and Arduino devices may lead to major
innovations in the teaching of computing, engineering
and science subjects in schools and universities. For
instance, the Raspberry Pi and the Arduino are ideal
systems to explore the topic of physical computing by
means of projects that construct the hardware and
software components of, say, a robot or an interactive
computer game with kinetic controller. Here we will
explore, and demonstrate, recent advances made in
highly affordable, open software and open hardware
computer systems.
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 25
25. Christmas Lecture
I will be illustrating many examples of the types of
projects inspired by the Raspberry Pi and Arduino.
Some of the examples will be drawn from the
physical computing and embedded systems classes
taught at the University in which students design and
build their own ‘gadgets’. The ultimate aim of this
year’s Christmas lecture is to encourage pupils and
teachers alike to explore the new and exciting world
made possible by open software and open hardware
computer systems.
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 26
26. One more thing…
pioneering
spirit
inspires
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 27
27. Q & A and Discussion
Raspberry Pi-oneering @ The Computing At Schools Scotland Conference, 27 Oct 2012 28
Hinweis der Redaktion
The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a UK charity that exists to promote the study of computer science and to put the fun back into learning computing.The justification behind this was the fact that the uptake of computing in schools and universities has been in steady decline due, mainly, to what is taught and how it’s taught.The culmination of voluntary effort by a team from the University of Cambridge has resulted in the Raspberry Pi computer that costs less than £25 and uses open source software..RPi is designed to push kids beyond basic computer literacy – and to expose them to ‘computational thinking’.RPi is so cheap that everyone can experiment without fear of ‘breaking it’.There has been a phenomenal level of interest in RPi – both from the teaching profession and from the media.The level of enthusiasm for this concept is unprecedented. Educators from all over the world are embracing the device to make computing at school more exciting and relevant.Proposal:The culmination of six years of effort by Dr Eben Upton and several colleagues from the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory has resulted in the recent launch of the Raspberry Pi (RPi) – a credit card sized computer that plugs into a TV and keyboard. Whilst this device is not revolutionary in terms of its capabilities the fact that it costs less than £25 and is specifically aimed at getting more schoolchildren interested in computer science seems set to make it a game changer within education, and beyond. The reason for the very low cost of this extremely capable computer is that it has been designed, and licensed for manufacture, by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a registered UK charity. There has been a phenomenal level of interest in RPi and the first 10,000 production units were sold out within minutes of going on sale at the end of February due to demand exceeding supply by at least a factor of 10. The level of enthusiasm for the aims of the Foundation and its concept is unprecedented and educators from all over the world are embracing the RPi to make computing at school more exciting and relevant.http://www.raspberrypi.org/http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/04/raspberry-pi-schools-computer-science
ICT Curriculum rewrite – Education SecretaryCfE after the summerTeachers need extra help with resources for CfE EIS survey shows 93% of participants felt additional resources were needed Over 85% of respondents believe that more additional in-service training will be required to support CfE senior phase implementation Lack of time and training Useful resource Portable and ownership (low cost) promotes creativity + pride Small projects promote achievement and independence This will help teachers to inspire and nurture our future computer scientists RPi will offer a universal foundation to help further the study of computer science Proposal:A major challenge for many of these educators will be the development of their skills to fully exploit the potential of the RPi. The Pi-oneering project will, primarily, develop curriculum material and professional development resources in a collaborative effort with schools. Since the RPi is so inexpensive and so versatile we fully expect that pupils will use this device without the fear that they ‘break it’. This will cultivate an ethos of experimentation and inquiry that is sadly lacking in their current curricula. Furthermore, the highly portable nature of RPi, and the sense of ownership this engenders, will lead to more creativity on the part of students. It is ideally suited to small project work and this will help create a sense of achievement and independence. The team’s positive experience with ‘physical computing’ whereby students design and implement novel, computer-based devices and embedded systems is a testimony to the attractiveness of this approach to teaching and learning. The possibilities are endless.
Proposal:The Pi-oneering project will develop teaching and professional development resources that enable teachers to effectively incorporate RPi into all levels of the school computing curriculum. This is a similar approach to that taken between 1988 and 1992 when staff from the (then) Department of Computer Science developed resources for the new Higher in Computing and undertook in-service training for more than 100 teachers new to that subject area. Given that the RPi is state-of-the-art in many respects the resources that now need to be developed will, again, draw upon the knowledge and expertise of CIS staff and students. This application of their skills will, in turn, reinforce the foundations of our students’ knowledge and will motivate and engage them. The planning, organisation, development and delivery of these resources as well as the sharing of knowledge and expertise will be enabled by means of a massive open online course (MOOC) approach and by collaborations with other interested parties such as the open source software and RPi developer communities.The potential outcomes of the project include:(Re-)Establishing links with teachers and schools to involve them in the Pi-oneering project.Co-production of RPi-related teaching and career development material for schools.Co-production of RPi-related teaching and assessment material for undergraduates.Contributions by students, staff, and teachers (and ultimately pupils) to the open source software and RPi communities.Development of student skills in Linux and open source software development.Potential support and mentoring for Higher and Advanced Higher projects and cross-sector development of Curriculum for Excellence resources at all levels.
Who? Staff and Students Teacher and Pupils Schools, Colleges and University Because of nature of the Raspberry Pi, it has been proposed that all ages could be able to use it and learn from it. This would provide consistency across all levels of education. For example primary school pupils could have a R-Pi with different educational games installed, which would provide them with an introduction to a Linux based operating system in the background. From here, secondary pupils could further develop their skills with an introduction to programming and also have a more in depth view of how the insides of a computer actually work, something which I feel personally was not covered enough within the curriculum while I was at secondary school. Finally in further education, the R-Pi could be used for students to experiment with their own programs, perhaps even allowing them to be swapped over the integrated SD card slot and also distributed online if the user wanted to. In summary, the R-Pi can be used with many different skill levels, it would just involve downloading the correct software for each age group to the SD card. Also the fact that the data for the operating system is on the SD card means that even very young pupils could use it without fear of "breaking it".Proposal:By helping to develop curriculum material and professional development resources for schools we will encourage more pupils and teaching staff to engage with us. Developing RPi-based resources with the help of our undergraduates will motivate and engage with them. The level of enthusiasm for the potential of RPi shown by staff and, in particular, current students in all years of study, reinforces the project team’s belief that ideas and effort will be sustained and, indeed, advance well into the future. It is also the enthusiasm of the students, and the skill set of many, that will be harnessed for the co-production of many of the resources we have identified above.
An aim we would like to achieve with the R-Pi is to provide inspiration for the high school generation and therefore encouraging them to continue the subject at university. One of the advantages of the R-Pi is that it is very versatile and so can be used in many locations. Obviously the R-Pi could be used in the classroom, but as well as that, students would be able to take them home and use them to work on homework. Students who don't want to buy one will hopefully be able to lend them though a scheme available from the school. We hope to be able to create an online community similar to MyPlace which will consist of an online forum where students and teachers alike could post questions and advice could be shared. Tutorials and sample lesson plans could be provided as examples for teachers, who are looking to work towards the new Curriculum For Excellence. Further education students could also visit the schools to provide advice to pupils and teachers through a initiative similar to Glasgow University's CS Inside scheme. Competitions and workshops could also be set up with several schools at a time, to provide motivation and let pupils interact with one another about Computer Science.Proposal:Myplace facilities will be used to aid the coordination, development and evaluation of the project. In fact, an informal Myplace class was set up on 27th February 2012 and within a week of its ‘launch’ over 60 students and staff had self-enrolled to be kept up to date with, and contribute ideas to, this Pi-oneering proposal. Myplace could also be used to host the resources developed by the project and even, perhaps, some form of accredited Talon courses that would allow teachers and pupils to gain official recognition from the University for their achievements. Workshops would also be organised to bring interested parties together to plan and secure funding for further collaborations and developments.http://classes.myplace.strath.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=13436
Proposal:It has been observed that few products in recent history have created the level of excitement generated by the RPi. It is predicted that it will have a profound effect on the teaching of computing in schools. If so then the University, by means of projects like Pi-oneering, has a major opportunity to contribute to, and benefit from, involvement with this initiative. By helping to develop curriculum material and professional development resources for schools we will encourage more pupils and teaching staff to engage with us. Developing RPi-based resources with the help of our undergraduates will motivate and engage with them. The level of enthusiasm for the potential of RPi shown by staff and, in particular, current students in all years of study, reinforces the project team’s belief that ideas and effort will be sustained and, indeed, advance well into the future. It is also the enthusiasm of the students, and the skill set of many, that will be harnessed for the co-production of many of the resources we have identified above.http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-03/05/rally-behind-the-raspberryThe Pi-oneering project will equip our students with vital knowledge and skills. Their involvement with schools, open source software and RPi communities will actively engage them in their own learning in the context of a supportive yet challenging environment. Ideally, some of our graduates will go on to a career in teaching as only a mere handful from many hundreds over the years have chosen to do so. Others, no doubt, will be enthused by the commercial potential of RPi-based products and will pursue a more entrepreneurial path. Furthermore, the project will produce exemplars for the use of the RPi that will undoubtedly enhance the reputation of the University as “a place of useful learning”.