Required Equipment for All Courses

• Internet Access and a Computer or Tablet to Access the Online Classroom: Course lessons, including videos, are provided via the online classroom. Learning materials cannot be downloaded or used offline.
• Computer Monitor and HDMI Cable: Used to interface with the Raspberry Pi. A television can also be used if it has HDMI inputs. A laptop computer or Chromebook will not work for this purpose as they only have an HDMI-output port.
• Keyboard and Mouse: Used to interface with the Raspberry Pi. A wired USB keyboard and mouse will communicate more reliably with the Raspberry Pi (and cost less) than a wireless model. There is typically an option available on Amazon for $15-$20.
• AA Batteries

Additional Equipment for Specific Courses

• Raspberry Pi or Python Complete Course and Robotics Course: They will need a computer or Chromebook to use in the networking lessons. This can be the same device they use to access the online classroom. An anti-static mat is highly recommended to prevent damage to more sensitive equipment such as the Raspberry Pi camera. Amazon typically has an option available for under $25.
• Robotics Course: They will need a 9v Battery, a USB drive (minimum 4 gb), and a roll of electrical tape. The tape is used to make a course for the robot to track. If you have dark floors, buy white tape. If you have light floors, buy black tape. A USB to SD Card Adapter is highly recommened. It is used in an optional activity to teach them to back up your SD card to their computer. This is a very useful skill to have as their projects grow in complexity.

The program was designed to be used by older high school students and adults. Working with electronics and code requires precision. A small error in the placement of an electrical component in a circuit or even a single incorrect or missing character in the code will cause the circuit or code not to work. While this presents wonderful learning opportunities to improve careful reading and attention to detail, the precision requirement can simply be too frustrating for some students and we encourage parents to use discretion when deciding whether to use this program.

If you are considering using the program with your high school student, we recommend the following:

• Wait to start the program until their reading comprehension and concept comprehension skills have reached an upper-high school level--this is a rich course with in-depth information.
• Evaluate whether your student has demonstrated an ability to work with precision and pay attention to small details.
• Determine whether your student has developed significant frustration tolerance. A large part of working with electronics and code is troubleshooting. Everyone makes errors when setting up complex circuits and writing code. But it's very important to have the stamina to carefully work back through the project and find even a tiny error.
• Be available to support your student; you don't necessarily need to work through the program with them, but be close by to help them reread a section or double check that they've accurately duplicated the circuit or code laid out in the lesson. 95% of issues students run into when working through the program are results of a tiny error in the electronic component placement or code and almost all of these can be located with a parent's fresh set of eyes.

Curious to see a lesson in action? Click here to access sample videos, activity instructions, and a complete scope and sequence for the courses.