Robotics With Lego; Further Reading - Raspberry Pi User Manual

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U S E R G U I D E

Robotics with LEGO

In addition to add-in sensor modules, it's possible to control an external robotics system
through Scratch . The LEGO Education WeDo robotics kit is designed to connect motors,
distance sensors, and speed sensors to a computer—all of which can be controlled using
specialised blocks found in Scratch .
For children, the WeDo kit is an excellent way to get started with robotics: the components
clip together just like regular LEGO, and there are no risks of receiving an electric shock
should anything be badly connected . The WeDo kit boasts compatibility with regular LEGO
and LEGO Technik kits, too, meaning it's possible to build large projects quickly and easily .
More information on using a LEGO Education WeDo kit with Scratch can be found at
.
http://info.scratch.mit.edu/WeDo

Further Reading

Although this chapter serves as a brief introduction to Scratch, it's far from exhaustive . It's
also a little verbose for younger readers, who tend to learn more quickly when their lessons
are accompanied by lots of colour pictures .
The Support section of the official Scratch website, hosted by MIT at
http://info.
, includes a link to a Getting Started Guide in PDF format .
scratch.mit.edu/support
The guide describes how to work with Scratch in a colourful, child-friendly manner, and is a
great educational tool . This learning experience can be enhanced even further when com-
bined with Scratch Cards, which are downloadable flash cards containing explanations for
each of the block types found in Scratch .
MIT also runs a user forum for Scratch, allowing enthusiasts of the software to learn together
and share solutions for common problems . Membership is free, and the site works well using
the Midori web browser included in the Debian distribution for the Raspberry Pi . The forums
can be accessed at .
http://scratch.mit.edu/forums/
The easiest way to advance your Scratch skills, however, is to play . The name Scratch has its
roots in turntablism: when a DJ spins a record, the needle creates a scratching sound . Just as
DJs remix existing songs into something new, Scratch enthusiasts are encouraged to submit
their creations to the official website for others to download, examine, modify and remix .
The official Scratch site currently hosts more than 2 .5 million Scratch programs, making it a
perfect source for learning how Scratch is being used to create projects and for sharing your
own ideas with others . A list of the most recently shared projects can be found at
http://
.
scratch.mit.edu/latest/shared