A Million Children
(and MicroPython)
Nicholas H.Tollervey / @ntoll
It's a great pleasure and honour to be here. My
keynote is a story about a million children and
Python.
Last year...
Listed her wish list of things she
would love the Python community to help build in
an educational context.
She set some homework
I'm here to collect it in!
Actually I'm here to tell you a story about how, since
last year, the UK's Python community have been involved in
a computing in education project organised by the BBC
My First Computer
But first, some history...
David Allen, the project's producer, explained that, "[t]he aim was to democratise computing. We didn't want people to be controlled by it, but to control it."
Click the photo to start the emulator!
Rekindle that sense of wonder. Foster a "can do"
rather than "consumer" attitude. Cherish creativity
and exploration over rote learning and tests.
PSF originally education partners - to provide
resources and expertise.
The story of how MicroPython came to the
micro:bit
MicroPython started as a side project
Extraordinarily successful Kickstarter
Full reimplementation of Python 3 for
microcontrollers
PyBoard, ESP8266, European Space Agency
Flourishing community
Testament to Damien's talent and determination
In addition to the runtime, the BBC wanted a
web-based editor. We wrote one, but discovered that
we needed to build a whole eco-system.
We need a cross platform native editor
We need tools for the command line
We need projects to inspire others
We need a website for Python in education to
spread the word
So we got to work (around 60-80 different developers
from as young as 11 have been involved in the project
to a greater or lesser extent).
http://codewith.mu/
An editor for kids, created from the feedback
received by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Currently
only micro:bit specific, but generic version coming
soon.
Designed to take ZERO effort to use.
PyZeroZero
https://github.com/py-zerozero
PyGame Zero - A zero-boilerplate 2D games framework.GPIO Zero - A simple interface to everyday GPIO components used with Raspberry Pi.Network Zero - Making it easy for learners to use simple networking in Python.
TL;DR ~ simple child-friendly APIs on top of real modules.
http://microworldtour.github.io/
Most of initial work was done with just one device.
When we got 5 more we wanted to get the wider community involved: so we sent them on a world tour.
http://pythonineducation.org/
PSF providing support for design of a site to act
as a focus for Python in education - not just the
micro:bit, but also the RPi and many other educational
efforts.
But what can it do..?
Hardware overview
Simple "Hello world" via editor
Animate clocks
Sparkle pictures
REPL play music
REPL musical instrument
Code Speech
Radio (conductor)
"Asking what sort of education and learning our community
supports is how we decide what sort of community we
become.
For it is through education and learning that we engage
with our future colleagues, friends and supporters."
Nicholas Tollervey, 2015. :-)
We need help with:
The Mu editor - generic Python support!
FooBarZero and tools - See Dan Pope's talk this afternoon!
pythonineducation.org - early days. Internationalisation!
Playful resources that will inspire kids, teachers and developers - content!
Other cool stuff - Jupyter for micro:bit!
This week:
Finally, it's a great pleasure to announce that...
...imagine what you would do with such an interesting
project in your own locale, country and home.
It's an opportunity for the European Python community
to adopt and adapt a truly free software and hardware
project aimed at beginner programmers.
One more thing...
Everyone gets a micro:bit
(Thank you BBC)
Present your conference ticket at the desk in the Maker Area.
Technical deep-dive into MicroPython follows this keynote!
Please do something worthwhile with these devices.
If you don't want or need it, pass it on.
MicroPython on the BBC micro:bit
A Million Children
(and MicroPython)
Nicholas H.Tollervey / @ntoll
It's a great pleasure and honour to be here. My
keynote is a story about a million children and
Python.
