IoT Roundup:

Leveraging the Internet of Things in the K-12 Classroom

Jen Looper

Developer Advocate

Telerik

@jenlooper

http://www.ladeezfirstmedia.com

What is the Internet of Things?

Lots of small, embedded, interconnected, smart, low-power devices

• "lots"
• "small"
• "embedded"
• "interconnected"
• "smart"
• "low-power"

For example:

• Program your mailbox to alert you when mail is delivered
• Program your thermostat to turn on a few hours before you return from vacation
• Make your garage door sense when you arrive and open for ONLY you
• Program your bathroom scale to lock the refrigerator door...

Current commercial uses

• modern pacemakers
• 'smart refrigerators'
• Nest thermostats
• Fitbit, Jawbone

Problem:

So many toys. So little time.

goals?

• Familiarize students with hardware
• Teach students programming concepts
• Approach programming via art
• Hack together a project for use in class to solve a practical problem

Raspberry Pi

bringing IoT to teachers, kids, families, and Makers everywhere

What is RPi?

a machine:

• Credit-card sized Linux computer
• Comes with several USB ports
• ...and an Ethernet port
• uses SD card to load software
• HDMI output port
• 26 pin expansion header exposing GPIO pins
• 3.5mm audio jack
• microUSB power connector

• designed for teachers and K-12 students
• object: teach kids how to code
• very cheap: ~$20
• huge community of makers, students, teachers
• many online resources and teacher training
• run by Raspberry Pi charitable foundation  <3

What is RPi?

a community:

the downside:

time consuming to set up

• need some parts: monitor, keyboard, power cord, ethernet cable for internet access, SD card to install the OS
• need some time: to install the OS
• needs add-ons to enable sensors

RPis are good for:

• a cheaper setup for teaching kids how to code, esp. Python
• easy access to Scratch and Python software like Turtle for programmable art projects
• a way to connect to other IoT devices - ex: connect your RPi to an Arduino

Demo - Turtle art on RPi

Arduino

"the device that launched 1000 startups!"

What are Arduinos?

• a cheap, easy way to create devices that interact with your environment
• use sensors and actuators
• >16 different types
• write code on your computer, 'flash' to Arduino, magic happens

Downside

• Rely on your computer setup
• Don't include connection to internet
• Need 'shields' and at least a starter kit for sensors and connecting wires

Arduinos are good for

• Hardware hacking with sensors
• Learning about circuitry using "Fritzing" diagrams
• Learning how to program using C/C++ language
• Learn a more professional programming process - plan, write, test, <rinse/repeat> within an IDE

Build amazing stuff!

Spark Core

• A wifi-enabled Arduino
• Flash content to it over the cloud
• Sophisticated programming environment
• Great if you have easy access to Wifi
• Automate everything with a suite of Cores

Things to build

• Anything you can build with an Arduino you can build with a Spark, but updating it is easier.
• Build a classroom environmental monitor and add to it progressively (temp/humidity/light)
• Build a book check-in/check-out system tracked on an internet service 
• Make a motion-sensitive birdfeed monitor to email you pictures of visiting birds

Demo - the 'kid summoner'

Estimote Beacons

• a bit of memory
• accelerometer
• temperature sensor
• bluetooth
• long-lived battery
• gecko-sticky!

Beacons broadcast a signal over bluetooth

• estimates distance
• places phone in a context
• measures signal strength
• can ping 10x/second

your phone picks it up if an app is listening for it

Locate a book using a beacon

"Petting Zoo"

take a look!