Why choose a Python Coding Summer Camp?

Learning coding for kids is a really important skill, and is becoming more and more recognised as something to be encouraged and taught from an early age. But why learn to code with Python? Why is it such a popular choice for summer camps and schools all around the country? learning_coding = true if learn_coding is true: print "Python is great!" For younger students especially, learning to code using a text-based language can be a daunting experience. A common approach…

If you were asked to describe a robot 10 years ago, you might have come up with something along the lines of a large silver box covered in lights and dials, with 2 arms, 2 legs and a human-like head – the reality of modern robots is of course quite different! Robotics and electronics in our daily lives are becoming more prevalent by the day, not just in labs and factories, but at home and in the office as well.…

We’ve recently built up a prototype of our Invent! system (www.inventblocks.com) using the Raspberry Pi. Invent! is a system to rapidly build robots, learn coding in schools, and even prototype inventions by engineers. We’ve now got three versions of the system, each using different microcontrollers. The first we developed uses the ‘Crumble’ which is a great board for simple drag-and-drop programming. The second version (and mainstay of our product line) uses the BBC micro:bit – it’s great because it can…

With technology now so central to our modern lives, it can be difficult to know how to keep ourselves safe online, let alone keeping our children (who seem to know more about it than we do) safe too! To help out with this, we have created a brand-new course for this year, Cyberspy Academy, designed to teach children all about digital security and staying safe online. The concept of ‘digital security’ can seem extremely daunting and hard to understand -…

Does your child play too many computer games? We often have conversations with parents who are worried their child plays too many computer games. Is it as bad as it seems? Believe it or not, playing computer games (within limits!) has some well-researched benefits. I was reminded of some of these the other day when watching my seven-year-old nephew spend many hours playing a pirate-themed game (‘See of Thieves’). As a result, he is now obsessed with everything pirate. A…

In preparation for the Kickstarter of our Invent! Robotics Kit, we have been busy here at Tech Camp HQ designing some fancy new packaging to give a premium quality kit. We have never been particularly happy with the way the cables are stored in the box - most of the parts are held in with a layer of laser cut foam, but there is a lot of empty space left in the box so the cables (and other parts) end…

Out of all the courses we run, no tech is so fast changing at the moment as drone racing (OK, maybe 3D Printing is pretty close …) Every year when we review our drones, there are major steps up in what capabilities you can shove into a tiny drone. Now a drone that is able to fit into the palm of your hand can capture cinematic-quality footage. So how is all of this done? It’s a custom-made drone made by…

Written by Steve Bates - Deputy Head of Elstree Boarding School for over 30 years. Have you been thinking of sending your child on a residential Summer Camp? It can be daunting for both parents and their children but there are some great benefits for your youngster to experience from having time away, particularly if the camp you choose has an emphasis in a field that the camper is interested in – sport, music or tech for example. Here are…

As a parent, it can be difficult knowing where to start when it comes to getting your children started with programming. With more and more schools offering computer science for GCSE, and teaching programming instead of just Microsoft Office during ICT lessons, it has never been more important to get started early! Even in today’s uncertain job market, the demand for IT professionals is always on the increase – roles increased by 35% from 2016-2017. Fostering or nurturing an interest…

3D Printing is a rapidly evolving industry, with new products, research and breakthroughs appearing every day. But it’s not all just about printing a new phone case, storage box or small plastic toy – 3D printing technology has a growing number of exciting real-world applications, which are becoming ever more important to businesses all over the world. With home printers becoming very affordable, there has never been a better time to learn more, get creative and start seeing what 3D…