Thank you Chris, that does look very interesting. On 13 November 2015 at 21:02, Chris Roper wrote: > It may be worth having a look at Great Cow BASIC, It can program most if > not all the PIC 10/12/16/18 Devices as well as some AVR Devices, has a ni= ce > IDE that is easy to use and generates more efficient code than XC8 in my > limited experience. It also has a graphical programming tool specifically > for kids and a decent text compiler / Assembler for more mainstream > applications. Free and Opensource. I am seriously considering it as a > teaching tool for all skill levels as well as having developed a couple o= f > simple applications with it (An alarm System for my apartment and an > automated test rig for a PIC32 Based production board) > > Here are some links to have a look at: > http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/ > http://www.greatcowbasic.com/ > > > > > > On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 2:42 PM, John J. McDonough > wrote: > > > James has it exactly right. They need to get some quick gratification > > at least at first. Especially, don't underestimate the kids. They are > > amazingly quick to pick things up. The challenge is moving fast enough > > that they don't get bored. > > > > > > On Thu, 2015-11-12 at 22:52 +1100, James Cameron wrote: > > > Yes. Kids are automatically ready at that stage. That's not the > > > problem though; the problem is to keep them interested with the > > > possibilities. Having to install, configure and test an IDE or tool > > > chain is boring yak-shaving. It has to be ready. > > > > > > On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 10:47:22AM +0100, Kevin McGuinness wrote: > > > > Thanks for all of the feedback. I had never heard of the Sparkfun > > RedBot > > > > nor ChipKit. > > > > > > > > In terms of programming these devices, you could use MPLAB, > > > > arduino/ArduBlock or LabVIEW. Which of these tools would be most > > suitable > > > > for a 12 year old? > > > > > > > > To put it another way, for kids who have used Scratch and edited a > > python > > > > file, would they then ready to take the plunge into the IDEs > mentioned > > in > > > > the recent "[OT] PC Software Development tools?" discussion? > > > > > > > > Kevin > > > > > > > > On 11 November 2015 at 23:00, Brooke Clarke > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > Hi: > > > > > > > > > > Did you consider ChipKit? > > > > > http://chipkit.net/ > > > > > > > > > > I found out about them because of the home version of LabVIEW < > > > > > http://www.prc68.com/I/LabVIEW.html>. > > > > > It's my understanding it uses not only Arduino shields, but also > > Pmods > > > > > some of which are based on very sophisticated ICs. > > > > > http://digilentinc.com/Products/Catalog.cfm?NavPath=3D2,401&Cat= =3D9 > > > > > > > > > > Mail_Attachment -- > > > > > Have Fun, > > > > > > > > > > Brooke Clarke > > > > > http://www.PRC68.com > > > > > http://www.end2partygovernment.com/2012Issues.html > > > > > http://www.prc68.com/I/DietNutrition.html > > > > > piclist-request@mit.edu wrote: > > > > > > [OT] Robots as an educational tool for kids > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > > > > View/change your membership options at > > > > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > > > View/change your membership options at > > > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > > > > -- > > > James Cameron > > > http://quozl.linux.org.au/ > > > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .