Introduction
Steve Carr
Information Technology FP
Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln, NE
Introduction
Background info
Hardware
Software
Introduction
BirdBrain Offers 1000 Robots for CSEdWeek
CSTA Members:
We are pledging to loan out robots to up to 20 school districts or
educational organizations. We will cover all shipping costs, as
well as costs associated with any robots that break in transit or
during the program (we have high confidence in the Finch's
robustness!).
We will send five robots to each participating organization at the
beginning of November, as an advance squad to ensure that
there are no software or IT glitches on school computers, and to
allow teachers participating in the program to practice or modify
the activity.
September 10, 2013
Introduction
I'm pleased to inform you that your application to the 1000
Finch robots program was accepted! We will be sending
you 50 robots in the month of April.
Tom Lauwers, Owner, BirdBrain Technologies LLC
Introduction
I'm pleased to inform you that your application to the 1000
Finch robots program was accepted! We will be sending
you 50 robots in the month of April.
Tom Lauwers, Owner, BirdBrain Technologies LLC
April 2nd, 47 Finch robots were received -- 22 were
delivered to Huntington Elem. & 21 to West Lincoln Elem.
Those schools were chosen since their CLCs had been
participating in a special program involved in teaching
students to code in Scratch.
What is a Finch?
What is a Finch?
Design goals based on 5 characteristics:
1) works everywhere;
2) rich interactivity;
3) aesthetically appealing;
4) robust hardware;
5) minimal curriculum changes.
Hardware
Light Sensors
Hardware
Temperature
sensor
Hardware
Obstacle Detection
System
(Infrared sensors)
Hardware
Accelerometer
Hardware
Motors
Hardware
LED & speaker
Hardware
USB port
with 15’ cable
Hardware
Note: the Finch
has no
“onboard” power
and must be
tethered to a
computer via
USB to operate.
USB port
with 15’ cable
Software
Most of the following languages, except
those listed at the end, can be found for
multiple OS and are free downloads.
Software
Java - initially designed to work in courses in which
Java was the predominant programming language.
Software
Java
JavaScript - Javascript Finch package for your OS
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python – supports Python in two ways: native Python
library; access to Finch's Java libraries through Jython.
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python
Scratch - to connect Scratch 2.0 with the Finch, you
need to install a helper app, the "BirdBrain Robot Server”
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python
Scratch
Snap! - a descendant of Scratch and adds a
number of key features like creating custom blocks,
recursion, running in a browser and dedicated
Finch/Hummingbird blocks.
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python
Scratch
Snap!
I chose Snap! for two reasons:
1) CLCs were learning Scratch;
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python
Scratch
Snap!
I chose Snap! for two reasons:
1) CLCs were learning Scratch;
2) Scratch and Snap! are FREE, multiplatform and IOS.
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python
Scratch
Snap!
C, C++, C# - The C, C++ and C# library was written
from the ground up and has a different feature set from the
Finch Java library. Not available for Mac or Linux
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python
Scratch
Snap!
C, C++, C#
Visual BASIC – not available for Mac or Linux
Software
Java
JavaScript
Python
Scratch
Snap!
C, C++, C#
Visual BASIC
Greenfoot, Processing, Calico, RoboRealm,
Scala, MATLAB, LabView, etc.
Programming the Finch
The Snap! interface
Programming the Finch
Introducing CS concepts: input/output,
conditionals, loops and more.
Input/Output
Programming the Finch
Introducing CS concepts: input/output,
conditionals, loops and more.
Input/Output
Programming the Finch
Introducing CS concepts: input/output,
conditionals, loops and more.
If Block – single alternative
Programming the Finch
Introducing CS concepts: input/output,
conditionals, loops and more.
If Else Block:
multiple alternative
Programming the Finch
Introducing CS concepts: input/output,
conditionals, loops and more.
Loop
Programming the Finch
Loop and compound conditional
The Community Learning Centers
What did we learn?
Integrating the Finch robots into the Scratch curriculum
has been amazing. The transition from Scratch to Snap
was so easy given all the time we spent using Scratch.
The students are so excited to use the Finch robots and I
was so shocked at how fast they were able to get the
Finch robots to do exactly what they wanted them to
do. Having the Finch robots the last month of club was
perfect timing, because the students were able to use
everything they learned from Scratch and turn it into
something so real.
Thank you again,
Ali Forey-Rohach
West Lincoln Elementary
Purchase Options - Finch
Price: $99 each
Purchase Options
Price: $99 each
Quantity Purchase:
$99
1-4
$94
5 - 19
$89
20 - 49
$84
50 - 99
$79
100+
Purchase Options
Price: $99 each
Quantity Purchase:
$99
1-4
$94
5 - 19
$89
20 - 49
$84
50 - 99
$79
100+
Purchase Programs:
Finch Eggs Program
Finch Eggs
Golden Eggs
Purchase Options
Price: $99 each
Quantity Purchase:
$99
1-4
$94
5 - 19
$89
20 - 49
$84
50 - 99
$79
100+
Purchase Programs:
Finch Eggs Program
Finch Eggs
Golden Eggs
Grant Assistance Program
Alternatives to the Finch
Other robot systems
Sphero and Ollie
gosphero.com
Sphero - $129.99 v 2.0, original - $79.99
Ollie – available fall 2014 - $99.99
Bo and Yana – pre-order for Christmas 2014
play-i.com
Yana - $59
Bo – $169
TinkerBots
indiegogo.com/projects/tinkerbots#home
various models from $159 - $499
Resources:
Finch Website:
finchrobot.com
finchrobot.com/finch-hardware
finchrobot.com/software
finchrobot.com/downloads
finchrobot.com/software/snap