EDN: Sparkfun has just announced the release of their LogicBlocks Kit – a new educational product designed to help students and beginners explore the obscure concept of digital logic.
The folks at Sparkfun say that LogicBlocks represents the first in a line of upcoming products the SparkFun Department of Education will introduce as a way of enhancing computer science education. These new products enable more creativity while teaching the fundamental aspects of understanding technology.
10 comments:
It is neat to see an advanced version of the typical "Learn how to make circuits work!" sets for users to begin learning about digital circuitry. Digital logic is a tough subject to wrap your head around when you start learning about it, and the physical associations with having building blocks shaped like their corresponding schematic diagrams help associate their function, form, and proper documentation. I also appreciate that the physical form of the LogicBlocks makes this product more marketable even to adults looking to expand their circuitry skills. No big plastic, hidden-connector chunky things here.
I am surprised at how happy I am to see a product like this. For me, I have grown up considering technology to be for adults, someone older or wiser in that field then me.. so computers have always been something I have thrown by the wayside and dis-creditted as too difficult to learn. Whether it be circuits or computers, learning about technology in general, had always seemed unaccessible, because sometimes you just need an over simplified, easy, straight forward way to learn a program/ technology. To consider how many "artsy" toys I had growing up compared to more logic based ones is a crazy, one sided comparison. It would have been nice to have such an introductory tool, not even a toy, around, to clearly begin a learning relationship with such technologies. I would definitely be interested now in purchasing this kit, I am so happy they are coming out with tools like this, it would be truly helpful to use/ have around!
This is a really cool idea. I never really understood digital logic, and I wish I had this! I used to have an old snap circuits kit, which was really cool, but no one really uses them any more! This makes me want to learn more about digital logic, especially as a prospective robotics minor!
I've always found learning new things to be much more effective when I have a physical way to comprehend them instead of through a lecture or a book. It makes it easier to grasp the concept and really fully understand what you're learning. These logic blocks are a great implementation of this idea. Computer logic is a hard concept to grasp and having a physical representation you can play with and experiment with would be great help.
Im not quite sure I even really understand what digital logic is, we just had a soldering class, which wasnt too complicated but you still had to pay close attention to what you put where. Digital logic seems like an incredibly complicated version of that and this seems like a very helpful way to learn about it. I always think its great when instead of just being talked at about a concept you can actually learn about it by making or doing something that helps cement the understanding of said concept in you mind. That was actually one of the things that attracted me to CMU, was the fact that we get hands on experience with literally everything we learn.
I don't know why but this reminds me of how bad older people can be with technology, like my parents are. We grew up with it and they didn't. its harder for them to understand how computers or iphones work because it seems so new and complicated. I know my parents couldn't begin to comprehend digital logic and i'm wondering what will be developed next that our children will grow up using that we will have a hard time with.
This tool for learning is a great idea, but I don't think it's implemented in the best way. One problem is that the pieces are small and breakable. This is not only important for young users but also for people who will be using the tool for many years. This would be a great thing for a middle or high school to have a class set of, but the breakable nature of this product makes this impractical. The $40 price tag is also a little to step. These are very small very simple circuit boards that probably don't even cost ten dollars to make. I was in a programming class in high school and I know that many of the students really had a hard time warping their minds around the ideas of logic systems. I know that a tool like this could come in handy teaching these ideas.
Last week an article was posted about Autodesk's new 3D software that was geared to maker-folk and 'kids' that would allow/encourage them to design/build/render and then with a 3D printer see their creation. I expressed my dislike for that product and spoke about the flawed nature of its target audience and how impractical the software really was as a teaching tool or toy for that matter.
(enough about that now, this is a different article, and different product entirely...)
SparkFun's LogicBlocks appear to hold the potential to accomplish just what Autodesk is attempting with the above mentioned software; - reach a target audience with a newer/less complex way of deciphering and learning advanced topics. In this case digital logic. Programming, and even basic electronic circuits are not the easiest of topics to grasp, especially when there are additional skills required such as soldering. In the case of LogicBlocks those extra skills are removed and the individual can get right down to business. This seems like a great next step for someone that already basics electronics (maybe already had a snap-together teaching game) and wants to learn more. Or even for a grad student that is interested in exploring new topics such as programming arduino and other logic based technology.
Well done SparkFun, hats off to you!
I love this idea. It's perfect for visual and hands-on learners, and is a great thing to learn, with how ubiquitous digital computing is now. Classes like this are probably going to be standard in elementary and middle schools soon, if they aren't already. It doesn't look like this project actually *does* anything, though. It's great for learning and for demonstrations, but I can't see kids playing with it for more than a few hours, and probably less, without getting bored. I'm sure more complicated and advanced learning tools will be made, and also ones that have tangible benefits to snapping them together in way A or B, possibly connecting to some electronic device?
This is a really cool product. I am the first to admit that I have absolutely no idea how technology works and if I had something like this I have no doubt that I would be able to learn. I'm so glad that something like this exists now but i honestly have to wonder why it took so long to invent. Technology has been around for a long time so why are we just teaching the logic behind it? Better late than never I suppose. Either way, I'd buy this.
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