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| Ian.M:
Its worth mentioning at this point that the Snap-Circuits system the O.P. is using supports the PICAXE-08M2 MCU, which can be programmed graphically in a way that's more accessible to younger children. See https://www.elenco.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SCXP-50.pdf for the manual of the now discontinued SCXP-50 kit that shows how to use a PICAXE-08M2 with Snap-Circuits. To get the essential parts you need to use a PICAXE-08M2, see the Snap-circuits spare parts page: http://cs-sales.net/sncirepa.html (Edit: stupid site doesn't allow deep links). Look for "PICAXE Micro IC in Socket # 6SC U21" or if you already have a suitable PICAXE-08M2 "8-pin IC Socket ONLY with Micro Marking # 6SC U21S" Its worth noting that a PICAXE chip needs a couple of resistors on its serial input pin (see Nuts & Volts article link below) to prevent noise interrupting the program. For it to work properly the #6SCU21S PICAXE socket snap must include them internally. If you wanted to use a generic "Eight-Pin IC Socket # 6SC ?U8" snap, you'd need to make a little carrier board with a socket for the actual PICAXE chip, those resistors, and an 8 pin header to fit the DIP socket on the 6SC?U8. The official PICAXE system download cable is terminated with a 3.5mm stereo jack plug, and the Snap-Circuits SCXP-50 download cable with snaps on the end ("Cable USB to Snaps # TL SCXP" on the spares page) is rather expensive at $40 so you'll probably need a programming jig or adapter. Probably the easiest/cheapest option (with a competent electronics tech in the house) would be to DIY the programming cable - see http://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/july2014_Tyler and buy orange, yellow and black snap to snap jumper wires (search spares page for "jumper wire") to hack up and solder to the DIY programming cable board. However, one could just get the official PICAXE cable, and the Snap-Circuits "Audio Jack on Snaps, Horizontal # 6SC JA" + those three jumpers and use the 6SCJA as an adapter. Once you've jumped through all those hoops, you can download for free all you need to program PICAXE MCUs in BASIC or graphically using flowcharts from the official PICAXE website: http://www.picaxe.com/Software. There's also support for using it with MIT Scratch. N.B. To avoid frustration and resulting lack of interest you need to have 'all your ducks in a row' before putting this in front of a child - All hardware assembled and tested, all software installed and a basic 'blinky LED' hello world program running on the PICAXE-08M2, and enough familiarity with the PICAXE toolchain that you can demonstrate 'drag & drop' flowchart programming to the child without fumbling it. Edit: I found the Snap-Circuits PICAXE USB to snaps cable on the spare part page, + some problems with the links to parts, so a lot of changes above. |
| Zero999:
--- Quote from: wraper on June 12, 2018, 11:33:07 am --- --- Quote from: Hero999 on June 12, 2018, 11:17:43 am ---If you continuously give children the path of least resistance, they will never learn anything. --- End quote --- Arduino is certainly not a path of least resistance. The path of least resistance is when you provide a TV with cartoons and a game console so they can waste their time without bothering you. FFS I hope you don't have any children, otherwise I'm sorry for them. EDIT: I mean that electronics or programming already is not an easy path, to begin with. So making it even more challenging than it could be, especially when you just try getting 7yo into it is just plain stupid. When child got interested and already learns something is when you could give something more challenging to do. --- End quote --- I agree with you about unnecessary complication, but you shouldn't assume everyone learns the same as you do. Fair enough, you might find coding easier, than designing/following a schematic, but not everyone feels the same way. I'm glad I wasn't forced down the path of coding when I was 7. It would have put me off computers for life! Fortunately the first time I used a computer was for word processing, because it was a practical application and I could see how it made life easier for me: I always struggled with handwriting! I'm glad my first experience of electronics was with dumb switches, lamps and relays, rather than the Ardunio. I found it fun making my own relay, from a nail and pieces of iron wood staples, even before I knew the word 'relay' or its schematic symbol. Every child is different. Someone who's a visual learner will struggle with coding, but will find building something with physical components, from drawings easier. One of the problems with the education system is one size fits all! If a child is interested in something, they'll learn it for themselves. All one needs to do is guide them. |
| Ian.M:
Also the Arduino environment is absolutely unforgiving to a novice with no experience programming in a procedural language. Due to the crappy Arduino IDE lacking syntax checking and error hiliting, there is no instant feedback that there's something wrong with the line you've just typed. To get anywhere, even just modifying supplied example sketches, you have to be able to write syntactically correct C code, and interpret cryptic GCC error messages. Putting an Arduino already set up and connected to a PC with the Arduino IDE installed and running in front of a 7 year old is just *DUMB* and will frustrate and/or bore the child - unless they are a prodigy already tackling higher education. Most children will be able to handle the concepts and develop the skills required sometime in their teens, but that's not guaranteed as a significant proportion of adults (of average intelligence) have little or no aptitude for procedural computer programming. |
| NivagSwerdna:
Have you spent time with a 7 year old recently? They are quite limited in their EE and Computer Science skills. We are more thinking along the lines of cutting things out and sticking them on, building some LEGO or tying shoe laces etc. --- Quote ---I'm working with my 7yo daughter --- End quote --- The OP recognised that this would be a *with* type of guided exercise. I do agree that Arduino isn't easy.... there seem to be quite a few platforms that aren't that easy... e.g. RPi, Micro:bit etc,... as I mentioned before I don't have experience of Lego Mindstorms... I presume that is 'easy'? |
| Ian.M:
I don't know about 'easy' but the drag and drop LEGO Mindstorms applicatinon certainly gets away from traditional programming and makes it more accessible to kids. I believe LEGO Mindstorms targets age 10+, but each child is an individual, and a particularly bright 7 year old may well take to it readily. e.g. https://www.techagekids.com/2015/09/lego-mindstorms-ev3-age-recommendations.html is a blog post of the author's experience introducing his 7 and 8 year olds to the system . |
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