Hard and software choices.
To fulfil our ambitions we looked at many platforms, did a lot of testing and with some juggling selected some platforms for now. The reason for selecting these were:
- Cost, as we really wanted something cheap platform that even pocket money for kids could afford, which is still a challenge. We wanted kids to take their hard- and software home so the learning does not stop when they leave our workshop. We agree it is challenging but we keep exploring and dreaming :-)
- Low threshold, high ceiling which was the second biggest challenge. The hardware had to be easy enough so kids take a liking and grasp the platform but not a kids dumb downed platform that then becomes more expensive and has a limited ceiling. For software it need simple enough to quickly grasp the principles but preferably link to a 'real' programming language used in commercial settings.
- Real technology. We did not want our hardware platform to have the clean feel as other platforms where components are protected in acryl boxes and which are also made error proof. We wanted kids to get as close as possible to the circuitry at the risk of learning by damaging hardware. For software we wanted any software to linke with 'real' programming language which are used in commercial environments.
- Open hardware, which is such a deep embedded philosophy in our workings. The reasons are extensively discussed all over the web.
For software we only used open source software and looked for visual programming languages which relate to a programming language. Scratch by MIT is the only exception on this for now
The hardware and software platforms we actively use can be found here. Those we happily support are briefly described here.
If the choices we made are the right ones the future will tell as the learning process we offer is one for us as well. We advocate for learning by doing and we stick to that in the offering of our services. in future we will provide data on our approach and keep you informed. Watch this spaces :-)