Computing for Impact

Computing, computers, and programming can be used for more than games and entertainment.  It can open a whole world of possibilities and give you the tools to impact the world in positive and amazing ways.  Coding has many flavors. Some coders build tools to control machines and other coders build algorithms to manipulate data. During Camp we will explore coding and computing from many angles.

RESOURCES for Computing Sessions

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Pi-top Computer

Exploring your Raspberry Pi laptop - a Pi-top [3] with a Raspberry Pi 3B+  (When you open the laptop, you can remove the plastic screen protector by pulling on the tab on the side of the screen.)

Watch this Youtube Video about your Pi-top and follow the directions.  The Pi-top Build has been done for you, but please watch that part to understand how it was done. (Your box will look a little different but all the same equipment is there).

Please follow the steps in the video for setting up your Pi-top. (Connect to your home Wifi)

To change the WiFi on the Pi-Top

1. Turn on the Pi-top (top right on keyboard) and it will boot into the Graphical User Interface (GUI pronounced goo-ee). It is normal that there be a multi-colored screen initially.

2. Right click on the wi-fi symbol in the lower right of the GUI and select your wi-fi. If your wi-fi is no broadcast by the router, it will not show up in the list. You will need to ask the person in charge of the router to broadcast it for a few minutes to select it.

3. Enter any password for the network on the box that comes up.

Let us know if you need to connect the network via an ethernet cable and we will get on the phone with you.

Commands to update Pi-top OS (must be connected to Internet)

If the pi-top says there are updates to run, then they should select “update now”

You can also force a check for updates by 

1. Go to to the Application Menu (lower left icon) on the desktop

2. Select System Preferences

3. Select Check for updates

Commands to install software for Arduino (must be connected to Internet)

(will be done during first coding session for robotics)

Here are some other resources.

• • • What is a Raspberry Pi?

    • Raspberry Pi home page

    • Want to know more about computer engineering? Watch this video about the design of he Raspberry Pi 3B+

    • Pi-top [3] Support & FAQ

    • Difference between Raspberry Pi and Arduino

    • Raspberry Pi You Tube channel    

    • Mag Pi You Tube channel  

    • Linux Commands

The experiments with the inventors kit are activities you can explore on your own. You can follow step-by-step instructions by clicking on the icon with an F in the lower left corner of your screen (next to the application menu icon).

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Ardinos

Exploring your ELEGOO Super Starter Kit: There is a CD in your kit that contains a PDF of the Manual we will be using. Please look at that from some background to working with this kit. If you are not able to read a CD, here is a link to the manual:

http://chamisaelementary.com/robotics/Documents/Super%20Starter%20Kit%20for%20UNO.pdf

The CD also has sample code for all that projects covered by the manual. I will post that code to:

http://chamisaelementary.com/robotics/Documents/Arduino%20Programs/ 

The Intro to Arduino lecture can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/126J-sNMe614RgbUC1Z6Zku5dXJNRyZmvUDxa3tEjXog/edit?usp=sharing

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Coding

Introduction to computing [Review on your own]

PB&J Computing: How to play nice with a computer [Presenter: Joan Lucas]

Introduction to programming: How to get a computer to do what you want