Re: [IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!

[Mike Lee]

Caryl,

Using a hair dryer for heat shrink tubing is hit or miss depending on how
hot the dryer gets and the type of tubing. Northern Tools has one for $20.
And Sparkfun a smaller one for $10. It's a worthwhile investment.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200328563_200328563
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10326

Electrical tape can certainly be used, but I find that long term it peels
off.

I take a significant amount of cords and electronic doodads through TSA
regularly. I find that you'll only be hassled if the wires are parts are
all mixed together making it hard to tell what's there in X-ray. I just
keep a ball of rubber bands around and neatly coil and band each cable, and
put small parts in clear zip lock bags. And you can store it in checked
baggage if you're doing that.

Mike


On Sat, Oct 13, 2012 at 11:39 PM, Caryl Bigenho wrote:

>  Hi Mike and All,
>
> Yes! Bring your temperature sensor kit. We can put it together in SF and
> try it out. I think for the parts kits I am assembling for folks to build,
> I'll go with the thermistor. It is less expensive and easier to find in
> time for the summit. It also doesn't need the additional usb cable for
> power supply to the sensor. I think people will appreciate lower cost
> solutions they can use in their deployments. There are also some
> interesting calibration lessons the students can do with the thermistor
> too. It will be interesting to compare yours, which uses the LM35D sensor,
> with the ones with thermistors.
>
> You mentioned using heat shrink tubing. I have a small travel hair dryer
> that puts out really warm (actually hot) air. Do you think it might work
> for this?
>
> I'm making the parts lists now and will work on locating an getting the
> stuff after the weekend. Some things are readily available locally, others
> may have to be ordered from a supply store that offers 2-day shipping. When
> I get the list finished for editing, sometime tomorrow, I'll send it out so
> people can check it over for me and make any needed corrections and
> suggestions. I would appreciate it if everyone with electronics experience
> could look it and make suggestions... even it you aren't coming to SF or
> are coming but don't want to build and play with sensors while you are
> there.
>
> Caryl
>
> P.S. Do you think TSA will blow up my luggage when they see all those
> wires and sensors in it??? [image: Winking smile]
>
>
> --
> Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 23:19:09 -0400
> Subject: Re: [IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!
> From: curious...@gmail.com
> To: sthom...@gosargon.com
> CC: cbige...@hotmail.com; iaep@lists.sugarlabs.org;
> support-g...@laptop.org
>
>
> Hi,
>
> Looking forward to being in SF! I'm not ready to sit down for a sensor
> session, but here's a historical bit...
>
> I found one of XOExplosion.com's temperature sensor kits from 2008 and
> just posted photos and their parts list to Flickr:
>
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiouslee/sets/72157631756048008/with/8081515681/
>
> Plan Ceibal's handout is a nice update of the wiki page:
>
> http://www.reducativa.com/xo/man-sis-sensoresdetemperatura.pdf
>
> I'll bring the kit. It looks like an assortment of heat shrink tubing is
> needed along with basic soldering supplies. I typically use a heat gun on
> shrink tubing, but a BIC lighter is quick and easy. You might want to check
> with Sameer if it's OK to use one of those. I think this video by Becky
> Stern of Adafruit demonstrates soldering in a snappy way:
>
> http://youtu.be/yZkz_a52I6s?t=1m18s
>
> Looking at some of the sensor documentation for Turtle Art, it looks like
> the use of a thermistor with two leads simplifies the assembly a bit, but
> the addition of a resistor or zener diode are suggested for XO-1.5 and
> XO-1.75.
>
> Guzman's video of temperature graphing in Turtle Art is awesome. Are these
> project files available anywhere? Looking at his video surfaces the fact
> that there's much more to the sensor exercise than just soldering:
>
> - Source parts and assemble the desired sensor
> - Test (and calibrate?) with the particular model of XO
> - Test with a specific project file for Turtle Art w/sensors, Scratch
> w/sensors, Physical Etoys, etc.
> - Create updated documentation and devise lesson plan ideas
>
> I messed around with the temperature sensor briefly back in the simpler
> times of 2008. Now the solution matrix has grown quite a bit.
>
> Mike
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:40 PM, Steve Thomas wrote:
>
> Unfortunately I will not be in SF, but I am very interested in Sensors.
> Perhaps I can attend or see the final 

Re: [IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!

[Yama Ploskonka]

I must have missed it if there was any comment on it, but Claudia Urrea 
has been working on sensors for many years already -
She was kind enough to show me a box with several ready to use sensors 
the time I was in OLPC headquarters in Boston, like 3 years ago?


As the head of the education dept of OLPC (unsure if that is still the 
case or the actual title) no doubt she can contribute detailed and 
proven lesson plans that teachers have used successfully, full reports 
on the use of sensors, in the field, in OLPC deployments.



On 10/12/2012 10:19 PM, Mike Lee wrote:

Hi,

Looking forward to being in SF! I'm not ready to sit down for a sensor 
session, but here's a historical bit...


I found one of XOExplosion.com's temperature sensor kits from 2008 and 
just posted photos and their parts list to Flickr:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiouslee/sets/72157631756048008/with/8081515681/

Plan Ceibal's handout is a nice update of the wiki page:

http://www.reducativa.com/xo/man-sis-sensoresdetemperatura.pdf

I'll bring the kit. It looks like an assortment of heat shrink tubing 
is needed along with basic soldering supplies. I typically use a heat 
gun on shrink tubing, but a BIC lighter is quick and easy. You might 
want to check with Sameer if it's OK to use one of those. I think this 
video by Becky Stern of Adafruit demonstrates soldering in a snappy way:


http://youtu.be/yZkz_a52I6s?t=1m18s

Looking at some of the sensor documentation for Turtle Art, it looks 
like the use of a thermistor with two leads simplifies the assembly a 
bit, but the addition of a resistor or zener diode are suggested for 
XO-1.5 and XO-1.75.


Guzman's video of temperature graphing in Turtle Art is awesome. Are 
these project files available anywhere? Looking at his video surfaces 
the fact that there's much more to the sensor exercise than just 
soldering:


- Source parts and assemble the desired sensor
- Test (and calibrate?) with the particular model of XO
- Test with a specific project file for Turtle Art w/sensors, Scratch 
w/sensors, Physical Etoys, etc.

- Create updated documentation and devise lesson plan ideas

I messed around with the temperature sensor briefly back in the 
simpler times of 2008. Now the solution matrix has grown quite a bit.


Mike


On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:40 PM, Steve Thomas > wrote:


Unfortunately I will not be in SF, but I am very interested in
Sensors.
Perhaps I can attend or see the final results if you do
presentations via Google Hangout?

I hope to be going to Haiti next March and plan to bring some
lessons and an "engineering challenge" around the kids/adults
building Solar Stills.  So temperature and humidity sensors would
be good.  I would also be interested in ones we can hook in
through an arduino (like the versions C. Scott Ananian designed)
for data collection.


Thanks,
Stephen


On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:06 AM, Caryl Bigenho
mailto:cbige...@hotmail.com>> wrote:

Hi Folks, It's crunch time!


STEM, SET, SCIB... no matter what you call it, the world is
focusing more and more on science and technology in education.
The XO is an ideal platform for furthering science education
through hands-on student based experiments that will teach
and/or reinforce science concepts from core curriculums. It is
a perfect use of the XO for any deployment.


So far the following people have shown interest in doing
something with sensors at the SF Summit and/or Sugar Camp.


Tony Anderson, Janissa Balcomb, Ed Bigenho, and myself.  Also,
it is possible Nick Doiron and/or Alex Kleider can help us
with the building.


Surely there must be more of you that are interested in this!


The plan is to make the sensors early on, maybe in free time,
maybe at the Noisebridge makerspace, maybe at the Summit
itself. That way, folks who aren't staying over for Sugar Camp
will have the sensors to take home with them.  Those people
who are able to stay past Sunday will have a chance to
experiment with the sensors and find ways to use them in
science lessons, probably focusing on upper elementary to
middle school science. These ideas will be shared with all who
are interested, principally on the SugarLabs wiki.


Sensors we will probably  build will include temperature,
light, and possibly one or two others. Once we know how to
build and use them, it should be fairly easy to transfer what
we learn to building others once we are home.


If you want to be a part of this, I need to know in time to
get the supplies for you. I plan to make a trip to a large
electronics store in the San Fernando Valley next week to
purchase the parts we will need. Their prices are excellent
and they will se

Re: [IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!

[Caryl Bigenho]

Hi Mike and All, 
Yes! Bring your temperature sensor kit. We can put it together in SF and try it 
out. I think for the parts kits I am assembling for folks to build, I'll go 
with the thermistor. It is less expensive and easier to find in time for the 
summit. It also doesn't need the additional usb cable for power supply to the 
sensor. I think people will appreciate lower cost solutions they can use in 
their deployments. There are also some interesting calibration lessons the 
students can do with the thermistor too. It will be interesting to compare 
yours, which uses the LM35D sensor, with the ones with thermistors.
You mentioned using heat shrink tubing. I have a small travel hair dryer that 
puts out really warm (actually hot) air. Do you think it might work for this?
I'm making the parts lists now and will work on locating an getting the stuff 
after the weekend. Some things are readily available locally, others may have 
to be ordered from a supply store that offers 2-day shipping. When I get the 
list finished for editing, sometime tomorrow, I'll send it out so people can 
check it over for me and make any needed corrections and suggestions. I would 
appreciate it if everyone with electronics experience could look it and make 
suggestions... even it you aren't coming to SF or are coming but don't want to 
build and play with sensors while you are there.
Caryl
P.S. Do you think TSA will blow up my luggage when they see all those wires and 
sensors in it???  
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 23:19:09 -0400
Subject: Re: [IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!
From: curious...@gmail.com
To: sthom...@gosargon.com
CC: cbige...@hotmail.com; iaep@lists.sugarlabs.org; support-g...@laptop.org

Hi,
Looking forward to being in SF! I'm not ready to sit down for a sensor session, 
but here's a historical bit...
I found one of XOExplosion.com's temperature sensor kits from 2008 and just 
posted photos and their parts list to Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiouslee/sets/72157631756048008/with/8081515681/
Plan Ceibal's handout is a nice update of the wiki page:

http://www.reducativa.com/xo/man-sis-sensoresdetemperatura.pdf
I'll bring the kit. It looks like an assortment of heat shrink tubing is needed 
along with basic soldering supplies. I typically use a heat gun on shrink 
tubing, but a BIC lighter is quick and easy. You might want to check with 
Sameer if it's OK to use one of those. I think this video by Becky Stern of 
Adafruit demonstrates soldering in a snappy way:

http://youtu.be/yZkz_a52I6s?t=1m18s
Looking at some of the sensor documentation for Turtle Art, it looks like the 
use of a thermistor with two leads simplifies the assembly a bit, but the 
addition of a resistor or zener diode are suggested for XO-1.5 and XO-1.75.

Guzman's video of temperature graphing in Turtle Art is awesome. Are these 
project files available anywhere? Looking at his video surfaces the fact that 
there's much more to the sensor exercise than just soldering:

- Source parts and assemble the desired sensor- Test (and calibrate?) with the 
particular model of XO- Test with a specific project file for Turtle Art 
w/sensors, Scratch w/sensors, Physical Etoys, etc. 
- Create updated documentation and devise lesson plan ideas
I messed around with the temperature sensor briefly back in the simpler times 
of 2008. Now the solution matrix has grown quite a bit.

Mike

On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:40 PM, Steve Thomas  wrote:

Unfortunately I will not be in SF, but I am very interested in Sensors.Perhaps 
I can attend or see the final results if you do presentations via Google 
Hangout?

I hope to be going to Haiti next March and plan to bring some lessons and an 
"engineering challenge" around the kids/adults building Solar Stills.  So 
temperature and humidity sensors would be good.  I would also be interested in 
ones we can hook in through an arduino (like the versions C. Scott Ananian 
designed) for data collection.



Thanks,Stephen

On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:06 AM, Caryl Bigenho  wrote:






Hi Folks, It's crunch time!
STEM, SET, SCIB... no matter what you call it, the world is focusing more and 
more on science and technology in education. The XO is an ideal platform for 
furthering science education through hands-on student based experiments that 
will teach and/or reinforce science concepts from core curriculums. It is a 
perfect use of the XO for any deployment.




So far the following people have shown interest in doing something with sensors 
at the SF Summit and/or Sugar Camp.


Tony Anderson, Janissa Balcomb, Ed Bigenho, and myself.  Also, it is possible 
Nick Doiron and/or Alex Kleider can help us with the building.


Surely there must be more of you that are interested in this!


The plan is to make the sensors early on, maybe in free time, maybe at the 
Noisebridge makerspace, maybe at the Summit itself. That way, 

Re: [IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!

[Mike Lee]

Hi,

Looking forward to being in SF! I'm not ready to sit down for a sensor
session, but here's a historical bit...

I found one of XOExplosion.com's temperature sensor kits from 2008 and just
posted photos and their parts list to Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiouslee/sets/72157631756048008/with/8081515681/

Plan Ceibal's handout is a nice update of the wiki page:

http://www.reducativa.com/xo/man-sis-sensoresdetemperatura.pdf

I'll bring the kit. It looks like an assortment of heat shrink tubing is
needed along with basic soldering supplies. I typically use a heat gun on
shrink tubing, but a BIC lighter is quick and easy. You might want to check
with Sameer if it's OK to use one of those. I think this video by Becky
Stern of Adafruit demonstrates soldering in a snappy way:

http://youtu.be/yZkz_a52I6s?t=1m18s

Looking at some of the sensor documentation for Turtle Art, it looks like
the use of a thermistor with two leads simplifies the assembly a bit, but
the addition of a resistor or zener diode are suggested for XO-1.5 and
XO-1.75.

Guzman's video of temperature graphing in Turtle Art is awesome. Are these
project files available anywhere? Looking at his video surfaces the fact
that there's much more to the sensor exercise than just soldering:

- Source parts and assemble the desired sensor
- Test (and calibrate?) with the particular model of XO
- Test with a specific project file for Turtle Art w/sensors, Scratch
w/sensors, Physical Etoys, etc.
- Create updated documentation and devise lesson plan ideas

I messed around with the temperature sensor briefly back in the simpler
times of 2008. Now the solution matrix has grown quite a bit.

Mike


On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:40 PM, Steve Thomas wrote:

> Unfortunately I will not be in SF, but I am very interested in Sensors.
> Perhaps I can attend or see the final results if you do presentations via
> Google Hangout?
>
> I hope to be going to Haiti next March and plan to bring some lessons and
> an "engineering challenge" around the kids/adults building Solar Stills.
>  So temperature and humidity sensors would be good.  I would also be
> interested in ones we can hook in through an arduino (like the versions C.
> Scott Ananian designed) for data collection.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Stephen
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:06 AM, Caryl Bigenho wrote:
>
>>  Hi Folks, It's crunch time!
>>
>>
>> STEM, SET, SCIB... no matter what you call it, the world is focusing more
>> and more on science and technology in education. The XO is an ideal
>> platform for furthering science education through hands-on student based
>> experiments that will teach and/or reinforce science concepts from core
>> curriculums. It is a perfect use of the XO for any deployment.
>>
>>
>> So far the following people have shown interest in doing something with
>> sensors at the SF Summit and/or Sugar Camp.
>>
>>
>> Tony Anderson, Janissa Balcomb, Ed Bigenho, and myself.  Also, it is
>> possible Nick Doiron and/or Alex Kleider can help us with the building.
>>
>>
>> Surely there must be more of you that are interested in this!
>>
>>
>> The plan is to make the sensors early on, maybe in free time, maybe at
>> the Noisebridge makerspace, maybe at the Summit itself. That way, folks who
>> aren't staying over for Sugar Camp will have the sensors to take home with
>> them.  Those people who are able to stay past Sunday will have a chance to
>> experiment with the sensors and find ways to use them in science lessons,
>> probably focusing on upper elementary to middle school science. These ideas
>> will be shared with all who are interested, principally on the SugarLabs
>> wiki.
>>
>>
>> Sensors we will probably  build will include temperature, light, and
>> possibly one or two others. Once we know how to build and use them, it
>> should be fairly easy to transfer what we learn to building others once we
>> are home.
>>
>>
>> If you want to be a part of this, I need to know in time to get the
>> supplies for you. I plan to make a trip to a large electronics store in the
>> San Fernando Valley next week to purchase the parts we will need. Their
>> prices are excellent and they will sell small quantities if needed.  My
>> best guess is that most sensors can be made for $5 or less… maybe much
>> less. That means your investment for one each of 4 different sensors would
>> be $20 or less.
>>
>>
>> So… what I need to know is…
>>
>>
>> Do you want to be included in this project?
>>
>>
>> If yes, *what days/dates * will you be in SF and what part of town are
>> you staying in?
>>
>>
>> What sensors besides light and temperature are you interested in
>> building?***
>>
>>
>> Ideally, how many sets of parts for each sensor would you like me to get
>> for you? I don't have an endless pot of money and expect to be reimbursed,
>> but I can probably put enough into this for everyone interested to have at
>> least one of each, maybe more.
>>
>>
>> I will be making my shopping list for this over the weekend, so

Re: [IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!

[Steve Thomas]

Unfortunately I will not be in SF, but I am very interested in Sensors.
Perhaps I can attend or see the final results if you do presentations via
Google Hangout?

I hope to be going to Haiti next March and plan to bring some lessons and
an "engineering challenge" around the kids/adults building Solar Stills.
 So temperature and humidity sensors would be good.  I would also be
interested in ones we can hook in through an arduino (like the versions C.
Scott Ananian designed) for data collection.


Thanks,
Stephen


On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 12:06 AM, Caryl Bigenho wrote:

>  Hi Folks, It's crunch time!
>
>
> STEM, SET, SCIB... no matter what you call it, the world is focusing more
> and more on science and technology in education. The XO is an ideal
> platform for furthering science education through hands-on student based
> experiments that will teach and/or reinforce science concepts from core
> curriculums. It is a perfect use of the XO for any deployment.
>
>
> So far the following people have shown interest in doing something with
> sensors at the SF Summit and/or Sugar Camp.
>
>
> Tony Anderson, Janissa Balcomb, Ed Bigenho, and myself.  Also, it is
> possible Nick Doiron and/or Alex Kleider can help us with the building.
>
>
> Surely there must be more of you that are interested in this!
>
>
> The plan is to make the sensors early on, maybe in free time, maybe at the
> Noisebridge makerspace, maybe at the Summit itself. That way, folks who
> aren't staying over for Sugar Camp will have the sensors to take home with
> them.  Those people who are able to stay past Sunday will have a chance to
> experiment with the sensors and find ways to use them in science lessons,
> probably focusing on upper elementary to middle school science. These ideas
> will be shared with all who are interested, principally on the SugarLabs
> wiki.
>
>
> Sensors we will probably  build will include temperature, light, and
> possibly one or two others. Once we know how to build and use them, it
> should be fairly easy to transfer what we learn to building others once we
> are home.
>
>
> If you want to be a part of this, I need to know in time to get the
> supplies for you. I plan to make a trip to a large electronics store in the
> San Fernando Valley next week to purchase the parts we will need. Their
> prices are excellent and they will sell small quantities if needed.  My
> best guess is that most sensors can be made for $5 or less… maybe much
> less. That means your investment for one each of 4 different sensors would
> be $20 or less.
>
>
> So… what I need to know is…
>
>
> Do you want to be included in this project?
>
>
> If yes, *what days/dates * will you be in SF and what part of town are
> you staying in?
>
>
> What sensors besides light and temperature are you interested in
> building?***
>
>
> Ideally, how many sets of parts for each sensor would you like me to get
> for you? I don't have an endless pot of money and expect to be reimbursed,
> but I can probably put enough into this for everyone interested to have at
> least one of each, maybe more.
>
>
> I will be making my shopping list for this over the weekend, so don't
> delay in making up your mind!! Just send me a reply to this email with your
> "reservation" and info.
>
>
> Hope to see you in SF.
>
> Caryl (aka SweetXOGrannie or GrannieB)
>
>
> *** If you missed or misplaced the links to into about sensors, here is a
> list from the SugarLabs wiki and a link to a series of videos make by
> Trinidad Guzman who makes and uses a lot of sensors with his students in
> Uruguay. The narration is in Spanish, but if you know any science no
> language is needed!
>
>
> http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Activities/Turtle_Art/Using_Turtle_Art_Sensors
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/user/guzmantrinidad?feature=watch
>
> ___
> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!)
> IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org
> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep
>
___
IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!)
IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org
http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep

[IAEP] It's Time to Sign Up For Sensors!

[Caryl Bigenho]

Hi Folks, It's crunch time!
STEM, SET, SCIB... no matter what you call it, the world is focusing more and 
more on science and technology in education. The XO is an ideal platform for 
furthering science education through hands-on student based experiments that 
will teach and/or reinforce science concepts from core curriculums. It is a 
perfect use of the XO for any deployment.


So far the following people have shown interest in doing something with sensors 
at the SF Summit and/or Sugar Camp.


Tony Anderson, Janissa Balcomb, Ed Bigenho, and myself.  Also, it is possible 
Nick Doiron and/or Alex Kleider can help us with the building.


Surely there must be more of you that are interested in this!


The plan is to make the sensors early on, maybe in free time, maybe at the 
Noisebridge makerspace, maybe at the Summit itself. That way, folks who aren't 
staying over for Sugar Camp will have the sensors to take home with them.  
Those people who are able to stay past Sunday will have a chance to experiment 
with the sensors and find ways to use them in science lessons, probably 
focusing on upper elementary to middle school science. These ideas will be 
shared with all who are interested, principally on the SugarLabs wiki.


Sensors we will probably  build will include temperature, light, and possibly 
one or two others. Once we know how to build and use them, it should be fairly 
easy to transfer what we learn to building others once we are home.


If you want to be a part of this, I need to know in time to get the supplies 
for you. I plan to make a trip to a large electronics store in the San Fernando 
Valley next week to purchase the parts we will need. Their prices are excellent 
and they will sell small quantities if needed.  My best guess is that most 
sensors can be made for $5 or less… maybe much less. That means your investment 
for one each of 4 different sensors would be $20 or less.


So… what I need to know is…


Do you want to be included in this project?


If yes, what days/dates  will you be in SF and what part of town are you 
staying in?


What sensors besides light and temperature are you interested in building?***


Ideally, how many sets of parts for each sensor would you like me to get for 
you? I don't have an endless pot of money and expect to be reimbursed, but I 
can probably put enough into this for everyone interested to have at least one 
of each, maybe more.


I will be making my shopping list for this over the weekend, so don't delay in 
making up your mind!! Just send me a reply to this email with your 
"reservation" and info.


Hope to see you in SF.
Caryl (aka SweetXOGrannie or GrannieB)


*** If you missed or misplaced the links to into about sensors, here is a list 
from the SugarLabs wiki and a link to a series of videos make by Trinidad 
Guzman who makes and uses a lot of sensors with his students in Uruguay. The 
narration is in Spanish, but if you know any science no language is needed!


http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Activities/Turtle_Art/Using_Turtle_Art_Sensors


http://www.youtube.com/user/guzmantrinidad?feature=watch
  ___
IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!)
IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org
http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep