Cybersecurity with Python and micro:bit Resources
These tutorials with Python and micro:bit add an often-overlooked physical computing dimension to cybersecurity programs.
Welcome Educators!
This page is currently divided into two sections:
- Educator Resources
- Contests
Please log in to see all of the restricted educator-only downloads. Need an account? Email us at education@parallax.com with your school email address and staff directory page and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
What's a Microcontroller with Python and micro:bit Resources
What’s a Microcontroller with Python and micro:bit is a series of web lessons designed to get anyone — from the casual maker to pre-engineering student — started with building circuits and designing their own micro:bit-based inventions.
cyber:bot Resources
The cyber:bot robot adds a tangible hardware dimension to Python-focused computer science, CTE and cybersecurity programs. This robot puts the BBC micro:bit module on the Parallax small robot form factor that's a proven STEM success in classrooms from middle school into college, leveraging the add-ons available for this chassis.
ActivityBot Resources
The ActivityBot 360° Robot is our most capable and versatile small robot. Perfect for classrooms in middle school level and above, this robot can be programmed with the visual BlocklyProp programming tool or in text-based C-language. With its block-based approach to program building, BlocklyProp is a perfect entry point for students who are new to programming, electronics, and robotics, or who may struggle with traditional text-based programming.
Propeller Resources
This section contains downloads and resources for educators teaching with the Propeller microcontroller or any of its stand-alone boards (excluding ELEV-8 Flight Controller resources). This section does not include ActivityBot-specific resources.
The Propeller chip is a multicore microcontroller that is programmable in high-level languages (Spin™ and C) as well as a low-level (Propeller assembly) language. This microcontroller is the brains for our ActivityBot robot, ELEV-8 Flight Controller, and more.
Scribbler 3 Resources
The Scribbler 3 (S3) the perfect place for students and teachers to begin their STEM/STEAM journey. Programming, robotics, and even integrating math and art are all possible with the S3.
This section currently contains a growing set of solutions for the "Your Turn" sections of our S3 web tutorials. This material is restricted to registered educators only. If you are an educator who does not have an account on Learn, you can send an email to education@parallax.com (from a valid school email address) to register.
Shield-Bot Educator Resources
The BOE Shield for Arduino Robot (a.k.a Shield-Bot) allows the tried-and-true Boe-Bot robotics platform to be powered by an Arduino. Although the internet is full of ideas and projects for the Arduino, there are few good resources for getting started and learning the core skills necessary to be proficient with the Arduino as a microcontroller. By adapting our Boe-Bot materials to the Arduino microcontroller, we have created a student-friendly, yet thorough introduction for students and teachers who want to use the Arduino and are new to programming, electronics, and robotics.
What's a Microcontroller? Educator Resources (BASIC Stamp)
The BASIC Stamp Microcontroller is one of the most user-friendly microcontrollers available. The BASIC Stamp is programmed using PBASIC - arguably the easiest text-based language for beginners to learn. Ideal for students who are new to programming and electronics, the BASIC Stamp, the Board of Education, and the Homework Board are time-tested platforms, making them some of the best places for students to begin learning.
Robotics for the Boe-Bot Educator Resources
The Boe-Bot Robot is programmed using PBASIC - arguably the easiest text-based language for beginners to learn. Ideal for students who are new to programming, electronics, and robotics, the Boe-Bot is a time-tested platform, making it one of the best places for students to begin learning. The complete Robotics with the Boe-Bot learning system includes the educator resources, hardware, software, and textbooks.
Contests
Three Wall Race
Devise a strategy to touch the walls at as many high-scoring spots as possible in 60 seconds. The catch? Students don't know the numbering until 30 minutes before the contest! A great idea by Gary Reynolds, Physics Instructor at Santa Ana High School.
Box Maze
Boe-Logistics
This Boe-Bot style robot challenge consists of distributing the colored balls into the different scoring zones of the field. Each ball must be taken into a matching color zone.
ELEV-8 Air Race
This competition is a timed aerial race where the racing track is set up in 3 dimensions. It is open to any fixed multi-rotor aircraft, including the ELEV-8 Quadcopter.