Family Night @ the Library!

Expo interactive Experiences:

Gary Myers:

Circuit Playground Express is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming.

We start our journey with Microsoft MakeCode block-based or Javascript programming. You can code on a Chromebook or any computer with a USB port.  The Circuit Express Playground has a TON of sensors, display, and input options. For this introduction, we will create some basic programs at https://makecode.adafruit.com, then we will plug them into the device to enjoy the “fruits” of our programming labors!

Friedrich Drees

Apple Swift Programming using EV3 Lego Robots Learn the Swift programming language by playing Lego on your iPad!

Swift was initiated from Apple a few years ago and is now an open-source project under Apple’s guidance. It bridges between fast coding languages like C but still supports readability and has easy to learn features like Python. Apple’s Playgrounds app makes it easy to dive into the language. To make this even more fun we will show and practice how to control a Lego EV3 robot directly from the iPad platform. As this is done from the Playgrounds app, students are able to understand basics, structures, data management and control mechanism within the Swift language.

John Miller:  

Robotics fun for everyone 1. Arduino Radar/Sonar demonstration. Students will have an opportunity to observe a sonar demonstration on a computer screen. The screen will look like a sweeping sonar/radar screen much like that used in the military or air traffic controller. It is controlled with an Arduino Uno R3 Microcontroller and uses an ultrasonic sensor.

2. Vex pic controlled ultrasonic autonomous robot. This robot is self-moving and uses an ultrasonic sensor to move avoiding objects. Can it get out of a box by itself?
3. Various Pic16F877-20/P Microcontroller projects. These projects show the workings and components of microcontrollers. Students can change the physical makeup of breadboards and program the microcontrollers to perform various tasks.
4. Vex pic controlled remote-controlled camera robot. Students can remotely control a robot with a camera attached. They have to only use a TV screen to see what the robot sees as they operate the robot.
5. Vex pic controlled claw and motion remote controlled robot. Students can use the robot to grab various objects and move them across the room and place them in various other places during a timed session.
6. Vex pic controlled claw and motion remote controlled robot; along with Turnigy remote control. Students can use the robot to grab various objects and move them across the room and place them in various other places during a timed session. The difference with this robot is that two students are required to work together as a team to accomplish the tasks.
7. Vex pic controlled autonomous line following robot. This robot autonomously follows a dark line. Watch how it handles different choices with its motion.
8. Arduino Ultrasonic demonstration. Students can see how this project is constructed using a breadboard and Arduino Uno R3 Microcontroller. They can adjust the wiring and components, then reprogram the module to accomplish various tasks.
9. Arduino Motor demonstration. Students can see how this project is constructed using a breadboard and Arduino Uno R3 Microcontroller. They can adjust the wiring and components, then reprogram the module to accomplish various tasks

Lisa and Norm Dwyer:

Fun with Web Development

CodePen https://codepen.io/ is an online playground for web developers and designers. It’s a great place to find fun and amazing code samples that you can experiment with on your own. You’ll be introduced to using the three coding languages of the web; CSS 3, javascript and HTML 5. You can create your own code projects or edit others’, including animations, interactive interfaces and more. Plus, you can see the results in real time!

Joe Roberts:

Making Cool Stuff with Raspberry Pi and other mad tech skills 

Fix an iPhone

– take apart and replace screen and battery on an iPhone5.  I will be allowing students to participate directly in this.  Showing instructions from ifixit, using special tools and discussing organizational skills required.

Soldering station.

Retro Gaming Systems

– showcasing 3 different retropi assemblies.

A). A console based system kit with an RPi 3B+ that comes with wired       controllers.

B). An ultra small version of the previous console that minimal handheld version with a build-in controller, using a Raspberry Pi Zero.

C) A mobile handheld gaming system witnessed built in screen, controller and battery using a Raspberry Pi 3B+.

Raspberry Pi speaker system.  Turn any speaker into an Airplay or Bluetooth speaker.

John Tabb:

Diddy Bow!!

Think you need an expensive electric guitar to make good music? Think again! We’ll show you how you can make a simple, one string electric instrument in minutes with scraps from the garage! You’ll be playing the slide blues in no time!

Don Heide:

Ham Radio? What is it?

“Things you can do with amateur radio”:

Talk around the world without the internet or cell phones. Use your own “Internet” when the “other one” is down.

Send your voice, text, and pictures to unusual places, both near and far.

Create your own network of ham radio friends and send instant text messages without cell phones.

Meet awesome people from all over the U.S. and around the world, on-the-air and in person at ham radio events.

Talk through satellites or with astronauts on board the International Space Station.

Plus student demonstrations and fantastic door prizes including,  a Raspberry Pi, wireless headphones, robotic sphero-bot and many more!

The Book Fair is coming! November 7 – November 17. Preview Books and Pre-order here! http://onlinebookfairs.scholastic.com/default.aspx?f=3773850

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media-literacy-can-help-students-discern-fake-news/

Every birthday will show up in the pi sequence somewhere. Find your pi!

www.mypiday.com

Montana Classroom Featured on the Teaching Channel! The video series, Formative Assessment Practices to Support Student Learning, features the classroom of 4th grade Helena teacher Melissa Romano as she assesses student learning during a lesson on fractions. The video highlights the various ways that a teacher can elicit evidence of student learning, as students are encouraged to verbalize their thoughts and persevere to achieve. View the video at and watch Melissa represent Montana well!