All our online courses were designed to be used by people with no previous experience in electronics, programming, or robotics. Lessons start at the very beginning building foundational skills that increase in complexity over time.

The courses are most commonly used by adults and high school students.

Many parents ask us whether the program can be used by middle school students. The Basic Electronics and Coding Course and the Standard Electronics and Coding Course can also used by mature and highly motivated middle school students but parents should keep in mind that the complexity of the concepts and attention to detail required will likely mean a younger student will need assistance from a parent to work through the program successfully. When considering whether this program will be a good fit for a student, we recommend viewing the program scope and sequence as well as sample lessons by clicking here. 

Due to the in-depth nature of our course materials, homeschooling parents frequently choose to use Intro to Robotics as a high school STEM elective. Click here to find detailed information on our various homeschool course options.

• Raspberry Pi + Python Standard Course: 40-60 hours
• Raspberry Pi + Python Complete Course: 65-80 hours
• Intro to Robotics Complete Course: 85-100+ hours

For individual Intro to Robotics Program levels: (found here)

• Level A: 18-24 hours
  
• Level B: 24-36 hours
  
• Level C: 24-36 hours
  
• Level D: 20-30 hours
  

Please note, these estimates assume you are working at home at your own pace. For classroom settings, we recommend planning on 2-3x the time to complete each lesson. Please click here for more information on using this program in a classroom setting.

• Internet access and an Electronic Device to Use to Access the Online Classroom (course lessons, including videos, are provided via the online classroom so high speed internet access is needed; we do not recommend attempting to use the online classroom with a phone due to the small screen size)
• Computer Monitor (a television can also be used provided it has HDMI inputs, please note, a laptop computer will not work for this purpose)
• HDMI cable (likely attached to your computer monitor)
• AA Batteries x2 (these are used in Lessons A-1 to A-9 to power circuits prior to learning to use the Raspberry Pi)
• Keyboard and Mouse (please use a wired keyboard and mouse if possible. Wireless models do not work reliably with the Raspberry Pi. Click here to visit the Level A Resource List for a list of inexpensive keyboard and mouse options)

Raspberry Pi and Python Complete Course (Intro to Robotics Levels A+B+C):

• Internet access and an Electronic Device to Use to Access the Online Classroom (course lessons, including videos, are provided via the online classroom so high speed internet access is needed; we do not recommend attempting to use the online classroom with a phone due to the small screen size)
• Computer Monitor (a television can also be used provided it has HDMI inputs, please note, a laptop computer will not work for this purpose)
• HDMI cable (likely attached to your computer monitor)
• AA Batteries x2 (these are used in Lessons A-1 to A-9 to power circuits prior to learning to use the Raspberry Pi)
• Keyboard and Mouse (please use a wired keyboard and mouse if possible. Wireless models do not work reliably with the Raspberry Pi. Click here to visit the Level A Resource List for a list of inexpensive keyboard and mouse options)
• A Desktop Computer, Laptop, or Chromebook (this can be the same device the student is using to access the online classroom; in Level C this is used in networking lessons)
• Anti-Static Mat (highly recommended to prevent damage to more sensitive equipment such as the Raspberry Pi camera; click here to visit the Level C resources page to find one at a bargain price; this is particularly needed in Level C)

Intro to Robotics Complete Course: (Intro to Robotics Levels A+B+C+D)

• Internet access and an Electronic Device to Use to Access the Online Classroom (course lessons, including videos, are provided via the online classroom so high speed internet access is needed; we do not recommend attempting to use the online classroom with a phone due to the small screen size)
• Computer Monitor (a television can also be used provided it has HDMI inputs, please note, a laptop computer will not work for this purpose)
• HDMI cable (likely attached to your computer monitor)
• AA Batteries x2 (these are used in Lessons A-1 to A-9 to power circuits prior to learning to use the Raspberry Pi)
• Keyboard and Mouse (please use a wired keyboard and mouse if possible. Wireless models do not work reliably with the Raspberry Pi. Click here to visit the Level A Resource List for a list of inexpensive keyboard and mouse options)
• A Desktop Computer, Laptop, or Chromebook (this can be the same device the student is using to access the online classroom; in Level C this is used in networking lessons)
• Anti-Static Mat (highly recommended to prevent damage to more sensitive equipment such as the Raspberry Pi camera; click here to visit the Level C resources page to find one at a bargain price; this is particularly needed in Level C)
• AA Batteries x6 (these are used to power the robot in Level D; we recommend rechargeable batteries, click here to learn more)
• 9v Battery
• USB Drive (minimum 4 gb)
• Electrical Tape (used in Level D to build a track on the floor for the robot to follow; use black electrical tape if you have light colored flooring, use white electrical tape if you have dark colored flooring)
• USB to SD Card Adapter (optional; Lesson D-1 activity shows students how to back up their SD card to their computer, click here to see links to adapters)

Yes! With proper care the parts in the kit are reusable for future electronics and robotics projects. We also encourage other household members to work through the lessons as well.

If multiple family members are working through the program simultaneously, it may be helpful to purchase multiple component kits so each student has their own set but this is not required. Click here to purchase an additional component kit. If you are looking to use this program in a group setting, schools and co-ops click here for institutional ordering and pricing information.

If you decide you need to replace a part or want to have extras on hand, click here to purchase replacement parts.

We are thrilled to help! Contact us via email and we will help you get back on the right track. While we also provide support via phone, we strongly recommend using email as it's easier to send pictures or copy of your code back and forth--this can help us troubleshoot far more efficiently.

Also, please head on over to Facebook and join the 42 Electronics User Group. It's a great place for current or perspective users to ask questions, get project ideas, and connect with other families using the Intro to Robotics program.

Yes! The Raspberry Pi operating system tends to change fairly regularly. Sometimes the changes are minor, such as moving a menu item, and sometimes the changes are major, such as process changes. As we learn of changes to the Raspberry Pi OS, modules, repository libraries or any other resources used in the course, we will update the online classroom ASAP. When accessing the materials through the online classroom, you will always have access to the most up-to-date version of the lesson materials.

Unfortunately, we don't offer online classroom access separately from the kits. We are 100% committed to troubleshooting any bumps students may face on their road to learning. Component connections can be configured differently or may not be compatible depending on the specific component or manufacturer, even though they may look almost identical. That makes it really difficult (and potentially impossible) for us to troubleshoot effectively. Our goal is for beginning students to learn these skills well and we can only ensure that if students are working with a standardized kit of parts.

The good news is that even if you have extra parts (and even an extra Raspberry Pi) on hand, it opens up the range of possibilities for projects long term. It's pretty rare to find someone who works with Raspberry Pi's as a hobby and only has one!

Our program is used by a wide range of public schools, private schools, community colleges, tech centers, and co-ops. We offer classroom sets for this specific purpose (and have options for very small settings too). Click here to learn more.

We are happy to set you up to access the online classroom! Just contact us so we can locate your account and get you set up. Please note, it is helpful to include the name, email address, and shipping address on the order as it helps us locate your account account more quickly. Also, if you've ordered multiple times, please let us know which levels of the course you own so we can make sure we track down all the details we need and get you set up with classroom access for all the levels you are using.

Our online classroom system grants access to users for 24 months from the date of purchase. If you are still actively working through a course at the end of 24 months, please contact us so we can assist you with an access extension.