5 ms·

Why not just use virtual machines to sub out the RPis? Without the curriculum, it's not clear what they're trying to teach here. Assembly? Networking? Administr

Why not just use virtual machines to sub out the RPis? Without the curriculum, it's not clear what they're trying to teach here. Assembly? Networking? Administration of the RPis?

make3 9y ago
the fact that it looks really cool likely has surprisingly strong effects on student motivation and work/attention levels, leading to more learning, which is the sole target here
- wimagguc 9y ago
  Who are the students though? I'd assume that parallel computing is mostly interesting for university-grade "aspiring scientists", which is reinforced by the example software (a parallel 2D Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics(SPH) code and a parallel Mandelbrot set race). Do we assume that 18+ folks are only interested in parallel programming if it's assembled of shiny pipes?
  - accatyyc 9y ago
    Doesn’t seem like anyone assumes that. I’m interested in this stuff, but having it visual and physical like that would spark my interest even more. Seems like a no brainer that it makes students learn without studying a text book
- lvoudour 9y ago
  >the fact that it looks really cool likely has surprisingly strong effects on student motivation and work/attention levels This. The first step to teaching anyone anything is to grab their attention. Especially kids/teens. But I'll admit, the price is too steep. They can definitely do better
- Cthulhu_ 9y ago
  Yeah I think having something physical around will definitely help - being able to visualize something was really important for me back in school. We had an overpriced external hard drive we had to slot into computers to play around with, but it helped because it wasn't a virtual "imaginary" thing.
- protomyth 9y ago
  The fact it looks really cool also helps with visitors / donors. Never underestimate the value of blinking lights to enhance your fund raising so you have more money to teach students.

Why not just use virtual machines to sub out the RPis? Without the curriculum, it's not clear what they're trying to teach here. Assembly? Networking? Administration of the RPis?

make3 9y ago

the fact that it looks really cool likely has surprisingly strong effects on student motivation and work/attention levels, leading to more learning, which is the sole target here

wimagguc 9y ago
Who are the students though? I'd assume that parallel computing is mostly interesting for university-grade "aspiring scientists", which is reinforced by the example software (a parallel 2D Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics(SPH) code and a parallel Mandelbrot set race). Do we assume that 18+ folks are only interested in parallel programming if it's assembled of shiny pipes?
- accatyyc 9y ago
  Doesn’t seem like anyone assumes that. I’m interested in this stuff, but having it visual and physical like that would spark my interest even more. Seems like a no brainer that it makes students learn without studying a text book
lvoudour 9y ago
>the fact that it looks really cool likely has surprisingly strong effects on student motivation and work/attention levels This. The first step to teaching anyone anything is to grab their attention. Especially kids/teens. But I'll admit, the price is too steep. They can definitely do better
Cthulhu_ 9y ago
Yeah I think having something physical around will definitely help - being able to visualize something was really important for me back in school. We had an overpriced external hard drive we had to slot into computers to play around with, but it helped because it wasn't a virtual "imaginary" thing.
protomyth 9y ago
The fact it looks really cool also helps with visitors / donors. Never underestimate the value of blinking lights to enhance your fund raising so you have more money to teach students.