20181125
Let's experiment with this Minecraft program written in Python.
20180921
In our first meeting we verified we could pull up the Raspberry Pi desktop using the school computer web browsers. We hooked up a microcontroller and an LED array, and ran a demo program using the Arduino IDE.
20180828
We should be starting up again in a few weeks. This year we will use Raspberry Pi computers to program microcontrollers, hooking up sensors and other devices.
20180313
We have a new format. For each session, each student must show progress on a creative project involving computers or electronics before any free time use of the school computers.
20180312
Estimate pi by dropping sticks! Includes a computer simulation.
I had a chat with some people at OregonASK.org. They recommend these online activities from the Mozilla Foundation.
20180306
pi_browser running on the Pokitto can use the file system to access the microSD card. Maybe the program should start with an empty value for pi in a file, and fill in 9 digits at a cursor location when the B button is pressed.
20180305
We showed the pi_browser program running on a Pokitto to Mz. Daley. I think she liked it.
The VEX Rover has its motors connected to the H-Bridge, and some of the control inputs hooked up so that one wheel is driven. So it goes in circles.
20180228
With a few adjustments, the pi calculation software on Fabrice Bellard's site runs on the Pokitto. This should be good for pi day.
20180226
The VEX Rover may have power hooked up in time to run some experiments this week.
20171204
Today's Google home page says it's time to celebrate 50 years for kids coding!
20171101
Our Pokitto arrived!
20171007
Upcoming goals - C++ programming from the command line, installing a new OS from a flash drive, PICO-8 collision detection.
20171002
Current projects -- design graphics for Pokitto, learn basics of PICO-8.
20170227
The Mark IV is here. Kind of like the Mark II with an Arduino Pro Mini instead of a Teensy.
20170116
Pi day is coming up... in a few months. Let's calculate pi from scratch like we did last year. Also, let's try to do it using PICO-8.
20161121
Everyone seems to be playing splixio! Let's make our own version under PICO-8 and see if we can customize it.
20160912
Yay! We are back and we have new toys to play with. We ran PICO-8 on the new (for us) netbooks, wrote some simple programs and edited music with the PICO-8 tracker.
20160808
We are setting up some netbook computers so that we can easily work with editors, compilers and other software development tools. We should have at least 3 of these available when we start in the Fall.
20160509
Let's try PICO-8 programming on the lab computers
20160404
botconboy's pi approximater, remixed here. It usually gets 3.1 something.
20160314
Goals
It's pi Day! Let's calculate pi!
Here's a nice write up on how pi can be calculated as a probability.
And here's a workspace we can use to write a program to calculate pi.
20160307
News for the Week
The Raspberry Pi 3 has been released
20151214
Let's try programming for Minecraft using Python.
20151109
Let's try the Hour of Code.
Also, Space Invaders on the handheld video game is coming together.
20151026
We create more pixel people to put in our video game.
20151019
What games would it be fun to create? Pong, Tetris, Asteroids, Pac man, Frogger, Breakout, Donkey Kong?
20151012
We start to experiment with the handheld video game
20151005
Goals
Introduce Achievement points
Demonstrate a breadboard circuit
20150921
Goals
Say hello
Program the FRDM board using the mbed.org IDE
What we did
Added people to the da Vinci Coders editor list
Modified the blinky program
Set up a Raspberry Pi
20150807
Goals
Propose a software development and target hardware set up that works for da Vinci.
Setting up additional computers takes time and we have a limited number.
Computer lab computers are not so fast, but they run Internet Explorer and Chrome well.
We tried to install the Arduino IDE on a lab computer but this failed.
Conclusion: Use a web browser for programming
Options
Collaborative JavaScript programming at sketchpad.cc, processingjs.org and openprocessing.org (shows ads)
mbed C language programming at mbed.org
particle.io online development environment here
20150330
Goals
Use Arduino to display text and graphics
20150316
Goals
Use Arduino to control wheels
20150309
Goals
Can we get the Roving Robot to drive the length of the room?
What we did
Connected battery pack to drive wheels
Wrote messages to LCD display using Arduino
20150230
What we did
Looked at the color of the White / Blue dress
Wrote "Hello, World!" in C
Assembled most of a gearbox
20150223
News for the Week
Apple might build a car
What we did
Set up 2 Raspberry Pi 2's, noticed that they can play Minecraft
20150216
No School
20150209
Goals
What can we do with sprites?
News for the Week
Humble Bundle is featuring programming books. Get a Ruby ebook for a buck.
20150202
Goals
Can we answer all the questions on the questions page?
Can we get everyone signed up for version control?
Can we all write a "Hello, World!" program?
News for the Week
Raspberry Pi 2 Released
What we did
Set up 11 code names
Set up Raspberry Pi
Multiplayer editing on sketchpad.cc
20150126
People spoke their names aloud and named programming languages. Around 10 people came.