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Here's an nifty approach that fits a UK sourced PICAXE-08M micro-controller into the gutted sound module from a colourful "snap connector" electronic kit. It's designed around the simplest ( & cheapest!) 80 experiment kit,but larger versions could be also used.
Popular & CHEAP high level PICAXE micros are widely considered THE best value educational micro, but pre teens & fuzzy eyed seniors may find PCB soldering & breadboard circuit assembly too fiddly. The modification,although a junior version, still allows full PICAXE programming (~80 lines of high level PBASIC code), but only 3 ( or 4 with the ground connection "hack" ) of the normal 5 I/Os are initially available - quite enough for intro work! Sounds,LED flashing,sensor reading,timers,data loggers,simple reaction games, code sending, traffic light simulations etc- even 2 wire serial data comms to other units/PCs are possible. Basic electrical circuits included with the snap kits themselves of course can still be used. EXTRA - July 2011: A new firebreathing PICAXE-08M2 has just been released, & it's an easy swap for the original 08M featured here. Such enhanced features as touch sensing make it particularly tempting for a Brain Box transplant- refer http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/docs/picaxem2.pdf
Popular & CHEAP high level PICAXE micros are widely considered THE best value educational micro, but pre teens & fuzzy eyed seniors may find PCB soldering & breadboard circuit assembly too fiddly. The modification,although a junior version, still allows full PICAXE programming (~80 lines of high level PBASIC code), but only 3 ( or 4 with the ground connection "hack" ) of the normal 5 I/Os are initially available - quite enough for intro work! Sounds,LED flashing,sensor reading,timers,data loggers,simple reaction games, code sending, traffic light simulations etc- even 2 wire serial data comms to other units/PCs are possible. Basic electrical circuits included with the snap kits themselves of course can still be used. EXTRA - July 2011: A new firebreathing PICAXE-08M2 has just been released, & it's an easy swap for the original 08M featured here. Such enhanced features as touch sensing make it particularly tempting for a Brain Box transplant- refer http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/docs/picaxem2.pdf
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These "snap connector" kits are globally sold under a variety of names, but here in New Zealand they're known as "Electronic Brain Boxes", with the simplest "80 Experiments" offering only ~US$15.
Pre-teen kids thrive on them,& classroom management is easy, since no tools are needed. That's right teachers- NO TOOLS NEEDED!
I've used a swag of 30 as part of my educational "mad scientist" work, & had ~1000s of hormonal kids tinker with them in the past 18 months. Amazingly however most are still intact & almost NONE OF THE PARTS HAVE BEEN LOST. The design of the kits in fact cultivates compulsive tidying up-complete sets have been reboxed in as little as 3 minutes!
Young kids (some even preschool) have absolutely LOVED them, & the confidence boosting gained from assembling CIRCUITS THAT WORK is immense.
Pre-teen kids thrive on them,& classroom management is easy, since no tools are needed. That's right teachers- NO TOOLS NEEDED!
I've used a swag of 30 as part of my educational "mad scientist" work, & had ~1000s of hormonal kids tinker with them in the past 18 months. Amazingly however most are still intact & almost NONE OF THE PARTS HAVE BEEN LOST. The design of the kits in fact cultivates compulsive tidying up-complete sets have been reboxed in as little as 3 minutes!
Young kids (some even preschool) have absolutely LOVED them, & the confidence boosting gained from assembling CIRCUITS THAT WORK is immense.
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Although the IR detecting Pin3 add on is a tad fiddly, it allows magical off board cross room control (even in daylight) using a simple TV Sony style IR remote. Entrancing!
Adapting a 3 snap strip to hold a power transistor has also been very successful, and grunty loads (lamps,motors,relays etc) can now be readily PICAXE controlled.