Introduction
Hello and welcome to Build, Think, and Create with Raspberry Pi in the Classroom! I presume you found this book because you are interested in learning more about the Raspberry Pi and its uses in learning environments. That’s great! The Raspberry Pi was designed to encourage new learners to tinker, play, and make with technology. The founder of the Raspberry Pi, Eben Upton, wanted to rekindle the past when the curious could pick up a computer and make something with it. Today, consumer technologies often hide this capability from the user. The Raspberry Pi is different. It provides a platform for new learners to create hundreds of hardware and software projects.
This book is designed for complete newbies (new users)! The approach is this: You are an educator. You know how to teach students. You know most students learn best when they are mentally and physically active, constructing knowledge as they work. You want to introduce your students to new and interesting technologies, but you are not sure where to start. Many educators have purchased a Raspberry Pi, opened the box, and are confused on what to do next. The honest truth is there are a vast of amount of resources available online (mostly free) for you to dive into and explore. The reality, however, is that as an educator this might not be the best option for you. I suspect you want to know just enough to get your students started and let them teach you! If that is the case, you are most certainly in the right place. My goal is to give you a good foundation from which to start from, then let you (and your students) discover more from there.
The activities found in this book are geared toward educators working with learners ages 12 to 15. That said, precocious younger learners can certainly accomplish the activities with guidance. Older learners (of all ages!) should find value, as well.
The educational benefits of using the Raspberry Pi are numerous. I am confident you will discover them as you read this book. We start with a brief history of the Raspberry Pi. We then explore some basic beginner projects with step-by-step instructions written from the perspective of a classroom educator. Finally, we learn and explore more advanced projects perfect for project-based instruction and learning.
I hope you find joy in learning with the Raspberry Pi. It is a remarkable little device. I envy you. You are now going to experience the thrill of making something new for the first time with a Raspberry Pi computer. Enjoy the journey!
Cheers!
Michael C. Renne