Skip to main content

Gift Ideas - Right Here ..

We are using a lot of electronics, robots and other materials in our classes and often parents ask about more details and where to purchase them - so here is a list of things we use and love. We have included links to the retailers we use. Many time, there are multiple places to purchase these items including Amazon. However, it is worth knowing the original price, so you can judge offers you find :)

Smart Train

The sessions with the Intelino Smart Train are always fun. Many ways to control the little train - using an app, with the color snaps, from Scratch and even using Python.

MicroBit

The MicroBit is definitely our most used little control board. Programmed via a webpage and there are plenty of ways to expand. There are many project ideas online (e.g. here) and you can start just with the MicroBit and then build your electronics empire 😀

HuskyLens

Our newest device we use in classes allows to experiment with computer vision for example using face recognition or object tracking. It can communicate with microcontrollers like the MicroBit via I2C.

Other Robots

  • Edison - great robot to start the robot adventure.
  • Jetbot - this is the one we use in the Smart Robots Camp - it is an advanced robot.

Other Items

If you have questions about any of the items, please feel free to reach out to thomas@orcsgirls.org

Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or retailers and do not receive any funds related to sales. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ProjectORCSGirls 2023

ORCSGirls mentoring and encouraging girls to participate in the ProjectCSGirls competition goes back to 2018 and every year more girls joined in.  The challenge is simple. Build something using computer science and technology that can help solve an imminent social problem under one of four themes - global health, a safer world, intelligent technology, and bridging inequalities.  Unfortunately it became clear after the girls had already spent time on their projects, that the 2023 ProjectCSGirls competition will not take place and we decided to hold a local competition for our eight girls and named it ProjectORCSGirls 😎 A big thank you to Prof. Katharine Page and the  Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing at the University of Tennessee Knoxville for hosting or celebration gala on August 13. Four finalists joined us in person and four participated virtually. Below are the blog posts about each project the girls submitted as part of their entries ✨ Noi...

Junior Robotics Camp

LOG: ORCSGIRLS JUNIOR To: ORCSGirls -- From: Katie Bates June 14, 2024 -- 7:30 am Hi, I'm Katie Bates, the founder of ORCSGirls Junior. Today marks the first-ever ORCSGirls Junior in-person camp! I'm super nervous, but "fake it 'till you make it", right? In case you don't know, Junior is a program I conceptualized in the summer of 2022 with the goal of reaching girls in grades 2-4 who are interested in coding and computer science. I kickstarted the program with a virtual reality camp last summer - my very first time teaching! The first day was pretty daunting, but teaching is the most incredible experience. This year's camp is about robots. Today we will use  Edison robots  ( https://meetedison.com/ ) to teach the Junior girls how sensors, block coding, and robot-to-robot communication works. I have a couple of activities for them to do; you can find the link to my slides here ( Edison Robot slides ). Wish me luck! --Katie To: ORCSGirls -- From: Katie Bate...

ProjectCSGirls 2022

Back in 2015 my daughter Klara and her friend Jamie participated in the national online ProjectCSGirls competition creating a VR MRI Simulator and winning 2nd place ✨ Being at the awards gala and seeing the awesome project presentation from middle school girls around the US in many ways inspired me to found Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls.  ProjectCSGirls runs a national competition designed to challenge middle school girls to actively use computer science and technology to develop a solution to an imminent social problem. The challenge is simple. Build something using computer science and technology that can help solve an imminent social problem under one of four themes - global health, a safer world, intelligent technology, and bridging inequalities.  Since 2018 some of 'our' girls have entered and competition and in 2022 we set a new record with six projects and seven girls participating. Suchita , Leah and Kristen & Katie , Nishka , Nicole and Tvisha were all selected...