Peterborough CAS Hub Write-Up

The first ever Peterborough CAS meeting was held last Thursday (as I write this). I had pimped this out on twitter, on here and it was on the CAS Community site too. So getting 10 eventbrite replies to say that people were coming was not bad I thought.
Anyway the prep for the first meeting had seemed to be going well, until a hiccup over refreshments for the evening occurred. But with some fancy work from one of our section assistants the refreshments disaster was averted.
9 teachers from 5 local schools turned up in the evening. I knew most of them, some just from brief conversations at our recent STEM Fair, a couple had beaten me up when I was dressed as a bear at a video game show (but that is a story for another day) and one was an ex-student of ours now teaching at a local school. On top of this was myself and my co-hub leader, and two colleagues. So for a first meeting not a bad turn out I thought.
The evening started off with the usual round the table introductions, and then we went straight in to our first presentation of the evening by Joanna Scott from e-skills. I say presentation it was more a round table discussion, with Joanna starting it off by describing who e-skills are and what they can offer teachers. Followed with those round the table giving feedback to Joanna about what e-skills could help them with. Joanna did point out that there were some great resources available for free from e-skills on their website, which it seemed most people are not aware of. There was to be a demonstration of the Big Ambition web site, however there was a problem with it which was down to either our firewall or version of flash. So that wasn't able to be shown. Which is a shame as the site looks like a great resource for students. They answer about 14 questions or so about themselves and then the site suggests IT or IT related careers that they might find of interest.
I think almost everyone got something out of this presentation including the speaker!
After a short break for refreshments, it was my turn to talk about project ideas for students using the Raspberry Pi. This was basically my brain dumping ideas based on stuff I had done with students, and future planned stuff to do. I tied this in with a kind of show and tell of the add on boards I have for the Pi so that people could see what they were like (but not running). Plus I had a large selection from my personal library of Python and Pi books for people to browse through as well.
After my talk we had a brief discussion to get feedback on the evening and to find out what people would like to see at the next one. The overall consensus was that it had been a good evening and folks had got some useful stuff out of it. But next time they wanted a more hands on practical session. So next time there will be two practical sessions being run. The first will be an arduino session being run by one of my colleagues (nicely co-opted into doing, dangers of going to a CAS meet I'm afraid), and I will be running a Raspberry Pi session using an add-on board (most likely the Pibrella).

What I would say is that if you are teaching IT/Computing and you are not part of the CAS Community go sign up here , find out where your nearest hub is and get along to the next meeting. It's a really friendly community of teachers and industry sharing resources and knowledge. It's great CPD (or whatever it is meant to be referred as now). And the face to face of a local hub makes a great networking opportunity and to find people to share ideas with locally.

First Peterborough CAS Meeting

24th April will see the first Peterborough CAS meeting.
If you are in the Peterborough area (or not) and teach ICT/IT/Computing why not come along?

The meet up will be between 5pm and 7pm, and will have a talk by Joanna Scott from e-skills, and a short presentation on project ideas for the Raspberry Pi.

Apart from the talks, it is also a great chance to network and share ideas.

Get your ticket for the meet up here on Eventbrite

Minecraft on Pi Controlling A Robot Arm

So basically my student using the python api for Minecraft on the Raspberry Pi has coded it so that when you hit a block it controls part of the USB robotic arm.
I'll put the code up later as an update to this post.

UPDATE 1: This setup will be on show Monday 24th at our Open Evening as well for those that would like to see it in real life.
UPDATE 2: Here is a link to the Python code that was written by my student that does all the stuff you see in the video. It should link to a shared directory on Google Drive (let me know if there are any problems).
UPDATE 3: Here is a link to the java code for the status updater that was developed and shown by my student at the STEM Fair yesterday.

My Next Practical Session - Minecraft on the Pi

So the morning programming session at the upcoming Peterborough Raspberry Jam will be the Minecraft session. Which is the one I am down for running. Once the session has run I'll put up any handouts etc on here.

Although this session will be a hands on beginners session, I'd like this to be the first in a series of sessions that build on this one. Might run these at jams and CAS meetings. That's the grand plan. But will have to see how this first one goes.

You can find the links to the eventbrite pages to get a free ticket to the Peterborough Raspberry Jam in my previous post here.

 

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CamJam 8th Feb 2014

It's Saturday I'm writing this post during the 5th CamJam. So expect updates through out the day on this page as I live update it!!! This will be a brain dump as the day goes on.

Really liked the leaflet that Code Club left in the lecture theatre (I've turned both sides into a single image). Just a shame this wasn't a sticker! I'd love the top image as a sticker.
First session was Minecraft on the Pi with Craig Richardson. The picture below shows a rare moment when Minecraft locked the Pi!!!!

The talk was out of sequence due to the first speaker being locationally challenged (ie lost!!).
Craig's talk is a great quick intro to programming Minecraft on the Pi in python.
In the Mobile power for the Pi, and Packaging WiringPi for Raspbian talk by Hamish Cunningham. An interesting talk about the MoPi so far. There is a kickstarter page for this, will have to have a look at that.

Here is a closer look at the MoPi from earlier. You can see it in the flesh in the show and tell area.

The build a package bit was a bit of a let down, more of look it up on the net. So basically a promo for his kickstarter. Bit disappointing.
Here's a pick of some of the battery packs on his show and tell stand that he's done to demonstrate the MoPi

Let's look at some of the show and tell stuff being shown at this CamJam.

So as the photos show there was a Pi controlled sailboat.
One school kid was walking round with this that he had made:

A portable Pi - pretty cool.
A teenager was show/demonstrating the internet of things with the Pi, twitter and a Wii remote.

Let's look at the new companies selling stuff at CamJam. There were one or two new companies showing stuff this time.

Phenoptix they had lots of LED stuff and small screens.
Piborg where there showing this monster, which they were then driving with a PS3 controller.

Plus they had these little kits there too

Dawn Robotics were selling robotic stuff and interesting boards.

Next to the Pimoroni Cyntech stand was a basic electronics kit being sold. The two projects were a traffic lights project and a motion sensor.

Second session I attended was the Create a chat client between two Raspberry Pis. Interesting session rung by Whaleygeek. This was a very useful lesson for teachers. Dave did a great visual example of how a network works, and to make sure folks were listening had a game of "buzzword" bingo. He had already done a python module to handle the networking low level stuff, so had people just typing in a short python program that either acted as a server or client. I liked the demonstration and the "buzzword" bingo something for class I think.
Today's stash:

A Raspberry Pi coaster, couple of 8MB SD cards with Noobs on, XLoborg, a pan and tilt, and a berryclip.
CamJam The 2014 plan

The next CamJam is the 10th May. Once more there will be morning programming sessions. Then in the afternoon venders, hack tables in foyer and meeting room. While the lecture theatre will have an education focus in it's talks. There will also be programming and bread boarding workshops.
Then on 5th July it will be a "normal" jam (their quotes not mine). Followed by a CamJam on the 6th September that will have a robotics theme with robotic workshops, hack tables etc. and mnormal presentations in the lecture theatre.
The big idea and very exciting for December is Pi Wars, robots competing to complete various tasks, like navigate mazes, follow lines, navigate round objects. Robots will have to be Pi based, have an upper spend limit. The idea is to use jams to help people build skills leading up to this event.
Now for the education readers of this blog this would be a great opportunity for students to build and enter the competition.

I think this would be a very exciting project for students to do, either as part of course work, or in an after school club.
The final talk for me today is the build a robot by Dawn Robotics. Which has some great advice. I do hope this session is being videod. Which reminds me I need to watch the AirPi talk as that was on while I was in another session. But back to this robotic talk, a great one to play students as a quick intro for building their robot with things for them to consider.
Sorry got it wrong, just sat through a NodeRED on the Pi talk, the scratch of the internet of things world. Semi interesting, I can see a use of this in the classroom.
The real final talk for me is one on network monitoring on the Pi.

Trying to get a laptop working with the projector for the network monitoring talk.
So the two network geeks put together a system for monitoring networks using Pi's, open source tools, and some shell scripting. An interesting talk, a good practical case study of a use of the Pi.
Overall another great CamJam, some ideas to take home, a great plan for future jams leading to a great event at Christmas.

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Peterborough Raspberry Jam

On 15th March there will be a Raspberry Jam held in Peterborough at the UCP building on the Peterborough Regional College site.

There will be a morning session running from 10:30 to midday. There are two possible sessions, a Minecraft and python one, or a Scratch and pico board one. Only one of these sessions will be running! Which will be the most popular one! The other one will then be run at the next jam.

I'm running the Minecraft python session possibly, if it is the popular one.

The afternoon session will run from midday until 4pm. And will be the usual jam fare of short talks, stands flogging stuff, show and tell, and general Pi goodness.

You can book tickets for the afternoon here on Eventbrite.

Tickets for the morning session can be booked here on Eventbrite.

 

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Coffee Anyone?

 

This Friday I'm lucky enough to have been given permission to attend the Games Britannia Industry Speakers Day by work (I also have a ticket for the event as well). It would be really cool to meet up with folks while there if you are attending. Looking at the schedule for the event there are breaks at 14:30 and 17:15. Plus the usual before and after opportunities to mingle and socialise.

I'll be looking something like the following:

Above photo taken at the Indie Coffee meet up just before Christmas, photographer Shahid

So either drop me a line via twitter (@whitespider1066), or leave a comment below, or just come up and introduce yourself on the day.

While I'm pretending to have a social life I may as well mention that on the 8th February I'll be at the Cambridge Raspberry Jam (better known as CamJam). Followed by running a hands on session at my local CAS hub (that's the West Norfolk and Fens) on python, the Raspberry Pi, and the new add on board the Pibrella. I then have a couple of weeks off! There is then a STEM Fair at PRC on 19th March which I think local schools are coming too, and I am doing adhoc 5 minute talks for teachers of lesson ideas using the Raspberry Pi. But before the STEM Fair you will find me at the first Peterborough Raspberry Jam. I'm running the Programming Minecraft in the morning, and just enjoying the jam in the afternoon.

So I hope folks can make some of these events even if you ignore me, as I think you will have a cool time.

 

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Games Britannia 2014 Program

Below is a summary of the program of events that Games Britannia have lined up for 2014 with links.

• 16th January 2014 - Sumo Digital Coding Master Class (click HERE for full details)
• 24th January 2014 - Industry Lectures and GB Competition Brief (click HERE for full details)
• 10th - 12th June 2014 - Schools Workshops (click HERE for full details)

I will say I already have my ticket booked (via the EventBrite page) and there are not many tickets left when I just looked. So I will write up the days event for here when I go.

I am interested in the Games Britannia Competition Brief, it's something I want to have my students on the Level 1 and 2 have a go at this year.

Sadly the Sumo Digital Coding Master Class is for University students only. 

While it really is a bit of a lottery getting the workshops you want for the Schools Workshops. The problem I have is that I have 93 students I'd like to take to that! Will have to discuss logistics with the organisers before hand. 

If you get to any of the above events let me know how you got on in the comments. If you are going on the 24th January then say hi to me. I will be wearing a retro video game t-shirt of some sort (probably a manic miner one).

Another Open Day Another Display

This week instead of a parents evening we had an open day at work. Which was very busy. So busy in fact I didn't even get a chance to make use of the free beverage that we are entitled to for doing the open day. Anyway I had my Raspberry Pi's out again. This time I had two running, one with the Pi-Lite (with the same code as the parents evening but different message scrolling), and the other running the Pi Glow. I was going to write some Python to show off the Pi Glow, however after running the demo code that came with it, for my needs I couldn't improve on it, so I ran with that. You can see the setup running in the embedded Instagram clip above.

So now I am 50% there of having my own version of the PiHub demo I saw at the last Cambridge Raspberry Pi Jam (CamJam). Which was basically 3 Pi's running off the one PiHub (see below). Next one I will add to this demo will most likely be a Pi running the PiFace Control and Display. I'd like to get the case for this however at the moment it's a fiver under their limit for using a debit/credit card with them, and there is nothing else I want from them!!! What a ridiculous limit, oh well I'll make do without for now. The other Pi for my demo will most likely be the PiBrella (not yet got my hands on one hopefully at the next CamJam, but shown briefly in the clip below) or the LedBorg (which I have on my Model B revision 1 Raspberry Pi).

What I like about having Pi's set up at events like the open day or parents evening is they firstly look interesting. Secondly they are a talking point for prospective students and their families. While we are talking Pi's and what they can be used for, I'm able to talk about the projects one or two of my students are currently working on (I'm lending Pi's out at the moment in the hope we will have some interesting projects to show at the next STEM Fair at work sometime after Christmas, like a USB Robot arm controlled within Minecraft on the Pi). Sometimes the prospective student will have one at home that they have not used, and it gives them a little inspiration to go back home and try doing something with it.
Anyway I hope this post has given folks some more ideas for using Pi's at open days. I'd love to hear how you have used them.