Primary Pi

[LeMarchand]

Are there any Primary schools using Raspberry Pi devices, and if so in what ways?

 

The ICT co-ordinator is very keen on them (yes, he's been on a jolly!) but all the "cool stuff" he mentions seems to be do-able with existing kit (and a lot less faffing). He's also quite keen on using them as laptop substitutes, but I'm thinking that surely laptops running the Pi OS (I'm assuming it's possible) would be easier and less jury rigged?

 

I think they're great bits of kit, but I'm struggling to find "useful" ways to use them in a KS2 setting.

[abillybob]

We have a couple here I bought in for testing, although could never find something decent to use them for when it comes to primary children. I would be also very interested by any suggestions on here.

[bladedanny]

The Pi os is ARM based so would need ARM laptops. Although a standard Debian install would work in much the same way. Can't see how they'd be used as laptops though, unless each student is going to carry around a monitor, keyboard and mouse too.

 

We've looked at them here but, like you said, most stuff could be done using our current setup. The only thing our current setup can't do is use GPIO pins for projects.

[LeMarchand]

The Pi os is ARM based so would need ARM laptops. Although a standard Debian install would work in much the same way. Can't see how they'd be used as laptops though, unless each student is going to carry around a monitor, keyboard and mouse too.

 

We've looked at them here but, like you said, most stuff could be done using our current setup. The only thing our current setup can't do is use GPIO pins for projects.

 

Didn't think of the ARM thing! (Though did have vague thoughts about another Linux flavour).

 

Apparently you can use Putty + Ximg to telnet into the Pi and display the screen on the laptop. Because kids who struggle inputting passwords and teachers who can't find SIMS unless it's a desktop shortcut are going to be able to do that.

[SimpleSi]

Hi - I use them in KS2 to control leds/motors etc using my ScratchGPIO

 

I VNC into them from laptops

Got several techniques (WiFi - direct laptop-Pi CAT5)

Issues with any technique but best to suck and see at each school what method you/teacher find best

 

ScratchGPIO5 - Cymplecy (Simplesi)

Simon