Comment by reidrac | Hacker News Reader

Comment by reidrac | Hacker News Reader

Parent Full thread

I doubt it will have the same effect and it is because this is not comparable to the BBC Micro.

With the BBC Micro and other computers of that era (I got started in computing with a ZX Spectrum), you could start using the machine _almost_ straight away (you still needed some accessories, like a TV). I think you're referring to that simplicity and how easy it was to get started. Switch it on and start typing BASIC!

This prototype (at least) looks like is a microcontroller board, like the Arduino (uses the same MCU as the Leonardo; although Michael Sparks from BBC R&D has mentioned on Twitter that the final model probably won't be based on that MCU and they have designs based on ATmega, ARM and MSP430).

That means you're going to need a computer to program it and there are few concepts you need to understand to get started. Not as easy as "switch on and program" :(

This is interesting indeed, but I honestly think it isn't comparable to the BBC Micro (or even the Raspberry Pi).

This is why the Pi is not a good computer for school coding.

It's just too damn hard to use for most kids. By the time they've worked their way around the Linux command line and file permissions, a big percentage have lost interest. (Yes, this is based on experience, from friends who are trying to use it in classrooms.)

It's good that the Pi Foundation is making an effort to produce educational materials. But IMO they should have worked much harder on initial usability, with a simple task-driven desktop that pointed kids straight at coding and web design.

With the old 8-bit micros you could start coding immediately. The Pi is nothing like that. The effort/reward function is off for all but the very brightest kids.

As for the Micro Bit - as you say, it looks a bit like the BBC's take on Arduino. I guess success is going to depend on the software environment, which is something that no one seems to have much information about yet.

I'm concerned that C++ is included, because that wouldn't be my first choice as a teaching language. But Python is too, and there's a custom language for beginners, so it may all work out.

The Pi foundation missed the boat on usability. I think it's problem is its made be people who love linux. People need to love what linux CAN DO.

They got it wrong write from step 1. The default raspian makes you pick a distro, then you have to log in (hope you're in front of the manual) then boot your own desktop environment with `startx`.

The Pi should be plug in -> boot to desktop with an icon for the manual, examples, scratch and the python repl. From that you get doing something and there's the carrot to have a reason to find out what other things it can do.

The choices are important but they've got no context until the pi is doing something in front of you.

This board is going to be great for the Pi. It fixes that first step. You make this board do a thing for you and ask "How can I connect two of them up" or "I want the to work while I'm away". Enter the pi to replace your laptop your developing on. Now you have a reason to learn how to leave it unattended.

Noobs has included a 'boot to scratch' option for a few years now. My lad of 12 years was given a Pi, and assembled it and was up and running with scratch pretty quickly.

Option though, There just seems to be some maddening aversion to making the defaults do one useful thing. The decision seems so paralyzed by being all things to all people.

I said this in another comment, but I think the interesting aspect here is that this will be a gateway-to-computing device, just like the BBC Micro was of its time.

Sure, its not comparable in terms of richness or depth of a machine to the Micro, but then all schools have PCs now. Its just they're used for Office and learning how to be safe online. Not for coding.

Let's hope kids then start asking their teachers how to do more than blink some lights, and ask their teachers to learn how to build websites, apps etc. Then it'll be a success.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com