[Edu-sig] Python in k-12 and Raspberry Pi

[Francois Dion]

I will be speaking at PyCarolinas 2012 in a few weeks, on the subject of python and the specific computing platform of the Raspberry Pi for learning CS and also electronics and how this scales to real world applications at the highest level. The talk is entitled:
Raspberry Pi: From Kindergartners to Mad Scientists
http://raspberry-python.blogspot.com/2012/09/raspberry-pi-from-kindergartners-to.html

The whole blog ( http://raspberry-python.blogspot.com ) is about python and the raspberry pi.

Of course when it comes to hardware interfacing and electronics with the Raspberry Pi, python rules as the de facto language, with various flexible python modules, many tutorials, and a large community to back it up.

Through the local user group ( PYPTUG ) and other forums, i received some valuable feedback from students and teachers, but it seems that as far as the Raspberry Pi is concerned, use of python in k12 (on that platform or in general) is mostly limited to personal, self taught endeavours, or the turtle module of python. It is popular with computer and electronics clubs, hackerspaces, makers, hobby groups etc. Also quite popular in community colleges and universities. Even shop classes are getting into the action building cases for the Pi, but not python related.

The Pi is used in schools, starting with gcompris for the very young ones, scratch for those a little older and also the turtle module. I also know that rur-ple is used on the platform, but in all, i didn't find as much as i was expecting with python. 

So, i'm turning to this SIG to try to find more real world examples of python or python with raspberry pi at k-12 levels. I'm also quite happy to hear about other python and raspberry pi use in education.

Anyone with an experience to share?

Thank you kindly,
Francois

--
Francois Dion
solarisdesktop.blogspot.com  -  raspberry-python.blogspot.com