For all projects you will need access to a browser on a computer to connect to the camp. The best option is to connect with the same computer you will program on so your child can share their screen and get assistance from the instructor.
Using an iPad to code for the camps is not recommended. While you can program in Scratch on an iPad it is difficult and adds a level of complexity.
If you plan to use your Boolean Box to program on for a camp, you should make sure you have a Raspberry Pi 4 which can connect to Zoom so your child can share their coding screen. You should use a second device to connect to Zoom as well since the Boolean Box does not have a camera or microphone. A tablet is an excellent choice for this.
Before the camp begins:
Before the camp begins:
Before the camp begins:
1. Go to:
https://www.python.org/downloads/
2. Click Download Python x.x.x (the yellow button) to get the latest version.
3. This will download the software onto your computer. Look for the downloaded file in the task bar at the bottom of your screen or in the “Downloads” folder in Windows Explorer. It will end with “.exe”. Double-click the downloaded file to run the installation.
It will take a few minutes.
5. Then you’ll see something like:
6. Click “Close”. Your Python installation is complete. Now follow the directions below to install Thonny.
1. Go to:
https://www.python.org/downloads/
2. Click Download Python x.x.x to get the latest version
3. Follow the prompts to install with the default settings. You don’t need a custom installation.
It will take a few minutes.
4. Then you’ll see something like:
Now you need to install Thonny, a tool we use for writing code in Python. (Remember that Python is the language we’re coding in, and Thonny is the place where we write the code. It’s similar to the idea that French is spoken in France.)
1. Go to https://thonny.org/
2. On the top right, you’ll see links to install Thonny. Click Windows if you have a Windows computer, Mac if you have a Mac, etc.
3. You’ll see a file with a name that ends in “.exe” download to your computer.
4. Double-click it to run it. (You may get a message warning you that this is an unrecognized app and could pose a risk to your computer. Click “Run anyway”).
5. Click “Next” through the installation process and accept the default settings.
6. Click “Finish” to complete the installation.
7. Go to your desktop, find the Thonny icon and double-click to run it. You may see a message like this: