Harvard researchers build $10 robot to teach kids to code

Re:Harvard researchers build $10 robot to teach kids to code by Vexs on Friday November 21, 2014 @04:01PM (#8643354)

Sadly, I don't think this (and similar things) will take off. Not because its bad, but because of public school bureaucracy. In my experience, teachers either have to pay out of pocket, or use "approved vendors" which, most likely, won't stock things like this. Heck, one teacher bought a bunch of arduinos but someone somewhere had a fit over sit-up and now there's a box of unused arduinos sitting in the corner.

Not just that either, in many public schools enginnering/Cs classes are "Blow off" classes, not due to the teachers, but the students in them.

This probably isn't true everwhere, but that seems to be pretty common.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Harvard researchers build $10 robot to teach kids to code by blhack on Friday November 21, 2014 @04:46PM (#8643561)

You're looking at school wrong. There is a HUGE push right now in the library system to get these things, and they're getting funding for it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Harvard researchers build $10 robot to teach kids to code by cbhl on Friday November 21, 2014 @05:13PM (#8643688)

It's funny. I know my high school robotics program took library technology funds to buy robots and parts one year. While the teachers thought the ROI was good, I'm still surprised that nobody villain-ified it as "robotics programs are stealing from textbook money".

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Harvard researchers build $10 robot to teach kids to code by vlunkr on Friday November 21, 2014 @05:13PM (#8643686)

You may be right, at least in the US, public schools are very slow moving when it comes to new technology. However, the Raspberry Pi started as a cheap computer for schools as well, but has been very successful outside of that market, and I don't see why the same couldn't be true for these robots. Who wouldn't want a 10$ robot?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Harvard researchers build $10 robot to teach kids to code by melling on Friday November 21, 2014 @04:19PM (#8643430)

I guess that's why the $10 cost is important. At that price it's a rounding error for a lot of people who might want one; You're thinking top down when this type of product will work bottom up. Someone will know someone who has one.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Harvard researchers build $10 robot to teach kids to code by jstanek on Friday November 21, 2014 @04:06PM (#8643379)

At my high school, we have a fairly well-funded PLTW[0] program. We have some nice resources, like FPGA boards and Autodesk CAD software. Perhaps if these devices were somehow integrated into a PLTW or similar standardized curriculum, they could see more adoption.

[0] http://www.pltw.org

[ Parent | on HN ]