Computer Science projects for Students, Using Raspberry Pi
Have you been looking for new projects to complete with your students using Raspberry Pi? Look no further! We have some ideas ready that will be a great way of teaching students physical computing and programming.
Raspberry Pi is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. It is a single-board computer the size of a credit card and can be plugged into a monitor with the use of a standard keyboard and mouse. Raspberry Pi was introduced in 2012, and its main mission was to promote and encourage the exploration of computer science.
Design a Photobooth
This project is simple yet extremely fun. You can add a screen, camera, flash, and printer to your Raspberry Pi to turn it into a functioning photobooth. If you want to add your own stylization or improvements, the options are endless. Consider implementing sound effects or uploading photos to a cloud-based storage.
Create a Smart Mirror
One of the most well-known and loved Raspberry Pi projects is the smart mirror. You can use your computer to create a mirror that embeds a display of the time, your schedule, and any other visuals that you’d like. You may choose to go above and beyond and include features such as voice recognition or gesture controls to activate smart LED lights.
In order to make this project work, you will need a two-way mirror. It would be best to order it online so that you can customize the height, width, and edges to your liking.
You will also need an LCD monitor because you will be installing it behind the two-way mirror. This Raspberry Pi project is a great way of upcycling old monitors and saving money on new tech.
Finally, you will need a wooden frame to hold the mirror and monitor together. Along with the frame, be sure to have all woodworking tools in order to refine the shape and have the mirror look seamless.
Design Raspberry Pi-based Solar Street Lamps
You can work on this project with your students to learn how to control the intensity of solar LED street lights using solar power from PV cells connected to a Raspberry Pi. This project is great for learning how to create an energy-conserving replacement for lights worldwide.
The PV cells are used for charging batteries by changing the sunlight into electrical power. A charge controller circuit is used to regulate the charger. During the peak traffic in the evening, the street lights must be able to maintain their intensity, but they can slowly decrease in brightness until morning. This project will need to make it so that the lights turn on at dusk and then turn off at dawn with a daily repeated cycle.
In order to obtain this, the Raspberry Pi board must include programmable instructions to control the light intensity according to the time of day. It will include 3 modes such as set, automatic, and manual for the lights. All the status and modes can then be displayed on a monitor.
Make Your Own Electric Skateboard or Scooter
Many students will be excited by this project, as electric skateboards and scooters are great modes of transportation and fun to use. Students will connect a small motor to a skateboard or scooter and then use the Raspberry Pi to program the vehicle.
The Raspberry Pi’s programming should have the vehicle respond via Bluetooth to a remote; a simple joystick will work. This remote will be used to control the speed of the skateboard or scooter.
For this project, you will need a skateboard/longboard or scooter, a motor, a Raspberry Pi, a remote with Bluetooth, wires, and any other stylization components that you desire.
Have Fun with a Raspberry Pi Pet Camera
Students can use a Raspberry Pi to program a video camera to set up a livestream monitoring of their pets. Even more convenient, Raspberry Pi offers a camera module that is easy to program.
Students will program the camera and create a space for it to reside. Students with smaller pets such as rodents can design an entire enclosure for their animal to be observed in. If a student does not have a pet, they can put their cameras inside a birdhouse and have it observe the outside wildlife instead.
Install a Wall-Mounted Digital Calendar
If you are seeking more upcycling projects for old tech parts, then this project is perfect for you. You can use an old monitor and turn it into an interactive digital calendar for your classroom.
For this project, you will need a home network, your Raspberry Pi, an SD card, an AC adaptor, a USB cable and keyboard, a HDMI cable, and a wall-mountable HDMI-compatible monitor.
Why Raspberry Pi?
We highly recommend implementing Raspberry Pi student kits within your classrooms in order to elevate your students’ computer science education. The Raspberry Pi can be used to learn about a variety of subject matters, including programming, system architecture, security, robotics, physics, and more. It is an extremely affordable piece of equipment that is convenient in size and accessibility.
We at pi-top want to encourage self-learning for students and engagement with rapidly developing technology. Our website offers everything your student will need to learn and code, including computers, project kits, guides, and support. By introducing our technology and the countless available projects to your students, you will open their eyes to the excitement of computer science and critical thinking skills that it offers. To learn more about our mission, check out our website.
