Mar.3 RaspberryPi start-up for course

Quick Set-up Need

RaspberryPi cannot be used straight of the box, because the box only has the 1 small board of the computer. It was designed for using in Computer Science education, so the set-up is a part of this education.  Being low-cost and many have it fits our criteria for use in the course. 

However so our focus stays on the IEC 61499 / 4DIAC course, a quick guide to set-up HW for RaspberryPi projects that map to the lessons is needed.  [This Post will be updated.]

This blog entry will be collection of how-to links used to get going with RaspberryPi: generally; with HW needed for lessons; and to use with 4DIAC. With additional text the better links will go into the course.

Generally

• RI-P quick start guide
• Power supply that uses mini-USB connection with 5 Volts input and at least 700mA.
• Raspian O/S +
• Display set-up (coming)
•  USB Mouse and Keyboard (USB power supply may be needed)
• Alt. Use SSH to use computer keyboard see Jan.7 Tech it Easy Blog post:
• Getting started with Raspberry Pi (without needing a separate keyboard) 

HW needed for lessons

• LED
• Light sensor
• motor  (Gertboard needed)

Feb.27 Course has new prototype

LMS
Not open yet, but Haiku learning system free version is home of latest version of the course.

Haiku has proven to be very easy to use in my part-time job and its always improving.

Lessons topics will be posted here soon.

Much has been learned from better Coursea courses, Udacity videos, and Haiku LMS.

More devices:
Lego Mindstorms NXT (eCos) will stay the main device, the lessons should allow for Posix devices like:

• CBC v2 (in 4DIAC since 9/2012)
• Raspberry PI (4DIAC users)
• (hopefully) Lego EV2 since it will have an O/S

Jan.3 MOOCs and LMSs

As this project gets more to class part, this blog will become education than hardware/software oriented.  

There is a major trend toward MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). Many people from all over the world sign up for a free online course on an interesting, current topic or that uses a current tool.  A certificate is usually offerred the few who complet the course. Most students will end-up auditing the class. 

But like most classes, the teacher of a MOOC and how well the student know what to expect each week/unit (to plan), determines who completes the course. Easy to disappear from MOOC. 

But it is a way to help Life Long Learning without going back to school. The a MOOC has unique challenges. How to grade... robot grader or peer grading using a rubric.  Usual elearning challenges... engagement. Short videos help. But when the some questions and answered in a video, you feel like the prof is really there for the class.

So far Coursera is my favorite. The LMS is flexible enough to help prof respond to pattern needs. To help avoid drop-outs one class used only top x grades and other allowed a certain number late days to be used as needed. Peer grading was new and is a good as the rubric instructions. 

Venturelab wanted us to work in online team - super idea, but started telling us to just get to know each other and look for a team to join. I felt dumped in. No Onboarding.  The course improved as it went on.

Udacity course I am signed up for are finished, but due to robot graders are still offered for independent study. They have are sooo many small step (short video, quiz, repeat) Keeps me engaged, but also want a break too. Of course I did the 1 unit in 1-2 days. So might be different if have a week.

What I don't like is none of the LMSs used are available to "outsiders" to try.

----
Next:
 Look at LMSs layouts vs Moodle default list layout 
 Look at / try Code Academy... another LMS or something slightly different. ----
Some related links on trends:
top-ed-tech-trends-2012-moocs
gamification in classroom
how-long-does-it-take-to-create-learning

Oct.24 15+Interviews Summarized

Here is a quick summary of all 17 Interviews ( 30-40 minutes)  on what is needed to teach IEC 61499 standard on distributed control and automation. Next: summarize by question/topic.

Automation Education Interviews Summary

.

Aug.1 PLC Training

If PLC programmers and technicians will use the  IEC 61499  tutorials to extend their applications to include distributed control, then looking at PLC programming classes might be useful. This can help to know..

• ...what they know to go from their known to their related unknown
• ... what terms do they use, what standards methods do they follow, etc

Some PLC courses listed online:
These were found via ads, google, http://www.plctalk.net

• http://www.ronbeaufort.com/main_frame_page.htm
• http://www.ehow.com/how_6824747_learn-plc-programming.html
• http://www.plctechnician.com/index.php
• http://www.thelearningpit.com/lp/doc/index.htmlhttp://www.thelearningpit.com/lp/doc/index.html
• http://www.koldwater.com
• http://www2.tesc.edu/syllabus/current/CTR-212/syllabus_CTR-212.html
• http://www.galilmc.com/learning/tutorials.php?type=plc
• alternative PAC: http://www.opto22.com/site/learn.aspx

July 25 LMS USB distributed too

Mainly been working on a full set of FBs for the KIPR KISS CBC v2... 
So iRobotCreate FB tests are what comes next.


But now the new LMS USB communication is working and allows distributed applications.


FBDK with 2 Simulated LEDs. and checkbox. 
If the Box is checked the FBDK LED, and  LED 1 on 2 different LMSs turns on. 
Not yet working is LMS publishing results to other devices.


Here is a first try at an LMS distributed application::

Application on the resources FBDK, LMS1, LMS2 and a Routing Resouce 

Routing Resource Application

July 27 CBC forte implementation

Designing the interfaces for all CBC functions except for create functions (coming) produced interfaces amazingly similar to LMS FBs for similar sensors. Motors are quite different, but not the interface. So are general FB interfaces needed, where only the insides changes or are that can be used as templates?


Forte Specific questions:
Nothing major, but need to note 

• WSTRING and STRING data inputs and String functions like strcmp. What type conversions are needed to get it to work.  [ask in fordiac forums]
• RSP exported like a normal input event, but it isn't [forte issue - start outside of forums]
• CBC shut_down_in(float delay)  Delay is a time, but is type float. 1499 uses "REAL" for float, (I thought), but get type problem. Plus really should use TIME for type even if have to translate it to float. [Assume seconds, but will test and work on translation]