The Jefferson School serves up Raspberry Pi

The Jefferson School’s Summer Discovery Camp has just added computer camp to its summer lineup.

Raspberry Pi is a small, inexpensive computer board which plugs into a TV and a keyboard. This credit card-size device has the capabilities of a personal computer without the investment. This affordable device is easy to use and with instruction can be utilized by children of all ages.

Eric Roberts, a current parent of two TJS students, will be instructing campers in this weeklong afternoon session camp which runs July 22-26.   Roberts has been working in the computer field for more than 25 years; he holds a BS in computer science and an MBA with a concentration in management information systems.

“I’ve seen lots of changes in computing over the years. I read about the RPi online and realized immediately that it would be a game changer,” said Roberts. The entire unit runs off an SD card costing less than a tank of gas; many people who could not otherwise afford a computer now have an affordable option. Unlike Windows or Apple operating systems, RPi runs off Linux, which is open source and free. With a growing community of Linux software developers writing and sharing free software, RPi makes owning a computer a reality for many households which previously could not.

Roberts will be instructing the campers on how to use the Raspberry Pi units, connect them, format the SD cards, begin computer programming and much more. The cost of the camp is $200, including the RPi unit. Campers will be able to take their RPi home at the end of the week.

For more information about The Jefferson School Summer Discovery Camp program, visit www.jeffersonschool.com to download a brochure or contact Karen Letonoff at 302-856-3300.