--- title: SparkFun Education Blog | python description: python | Maker Education Blog --- [![Sparkfun](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/img/logo.png)](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/index.html) - [SparkFun Webstore](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Higher Ed](https://sparkfuneducation.com/higher-ed/index.html) - [Contact Us](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/contact-us.html) - [Follow Us](https://twitter.com/SparkFunEDU) - [Home](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Blog](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com) - [Curriculum](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/curriculum.html) - [PD/Events](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/professional-dev.html) - [KITS/Materials](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/materials.html) - [Educator Stories](https://www.sparkfuneducation.com/educator-stories.html) - [Activities](https://activities.sparkfuneducation.com) [Blog Home](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/) / SparkFun Education Blog [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/20171106_164246.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-in-review) ## [2018 in Review](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-in-review) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 12/27/18 6:32 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-in-review#comments-listing) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [raspberry pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Another year has flown by and we’re excited to take a look back at the blog and see what we can learn from it. Without further ado, let’s look at some of our most popular posts this year and lessons ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/2018-in-review) [![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PPc0FCxrZoJp95BvCII8WlThls6J_t5dxxXSrjn-Jedszj4X7x6EZWBk27ZGTm29zBrjmLZuCMgsZyLc0WeZ0glzml2fnk1TygVD0KHMJL0vKXOKWSL6jhnlvI7lePiYUz5337XU)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/looking-back-on-csed-week-2018) ## [Looking Back on CSED Week 2018](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/looking-back-on-csed-week-2018) BY [Jeff Branson](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jeff-branson) 12/20/18 6:35 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/looking-back-on-csed-week-2018#comments-listing) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) [Training](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/training) [raspberry pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) As we bid farewell to another Computer Science Education week, I want to recount my experiences with three different classes at BLDG 61 and the Boulder Public Library.... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/looking-back-on-csed-week-2018) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/Social/Micro4Ed%20Class-04.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/mark-your-2019-calendars-sparkfun-in-the-wild) ## [Mark Your 2019 Calendars: SparkFun in the Wild](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/mark-your-2019-calendars-sparkfun-in-the-wild) BY [Megan Hemmings](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/megan-hemmings) 12/4/18 6:28 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/mark-your-2019-calendars-sparkfun-in-the-wild#comments-listing) [Professional Development](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/professional-development) [Events](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/events) [announcement](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/announcement) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) [Training](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/training) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) 2019 is fast approaching, and so are the 2019 educational conferences. SparkFun's Community Development Field Engineer, Jeff Branson, has already lined up some exciting talks for the beginning of ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/mark-your-2019-calendars-sparkfun-in-the-wild) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/Python_Images-02-1.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/getting-started-with-micropython) ## [Getting Started with MicroPython](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/getting-started-with-micropython) BY [Shawn Hymel](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shawn-hymel) 9/27/18 6:30 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/getting-started-with-micropython#comments-listing) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [micro:bit](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microbit) [microcontroller](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/microcontroller) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) If you are already teaching Python in the classroom, MicroPython can be a fantastic way to introduce microcontrollers into the mix to interact with hardware by blinking lights, responding to button ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/getting-started-with-micropython) [![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nYM3xK_xsB8zZqgDmIFkcrumHpAy86P0Yq_JEE2kmjspbUzstbTJnEcpIfyUjSictWCfdNGibksbmbnJJQK1C6p1cCxKQO7Jdemdv0pszWJ4yf3NGaqPLelJU2b5Dd4VPF_7-wjX)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-and-raspberry-pi) ## [Combining Arduino and Raspberry Pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-and-raspberry-pi) BY [Jeff Branson](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jeff-branson) 9/20/18 6:28 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-and-raspberry-pi#comments-listing) [Arduino](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/arduino) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) [raspberry pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) I am a huge fan of both Arduino and Raspberry Pi. Each has its strengths and its weaknesses. The Pi, as has been well documented, is a full operating system and is a capable platform for connected ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/arduino-and-raspberry-pi) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/templivefast1.gif)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/plot-live-sensor-data-with-python) ## [Plot Live Sensor Data with Python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/plot-live-sensor-data-with-python) BY [Shawn Hymel](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shawn-hymel) 7/24/18 6:34 AM [2](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/plot-live-sensor-data-with-python#comments-listing) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Python offers a fun and easy entry into text-based programming, and is also used by professionals for quick prototyping to run websites, test algorithms and control robots. When used on the Raspberry ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/plot-live-sensor-data-with-python) [![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jTzMLmxnSQ2MtaM7-jBTrPSDjaLLqxME_17AiZ-pLWZ3q0fNL2qTwdLe7X1h1nr7667u8AqyYxer8WkFxk_ao5LgQeK8FZOmOKM70Og80DAsXjV1W7jCumFtFibgiT4w-Fwh1mpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/july-blogpost) ## [Tinkering in code](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/july-blogpost) BY [Jeff Branson](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jeff-branson) 7/12/18 6:24 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/july-blogpost#comments-listing) [Professional Development](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/professional-development) [getting started](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/getting-started) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [Training](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/training) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Summer is the busiest time for SparkFun Education. We run professional learning sessions and present at conferences all over the country. I just returned from the ASEE conference in Salt Lake City, ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/july-blogpost) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/Headless_RPi_Twitter_Monitor.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/using-a-raspberry-pi-without-a-monitor) ## [Using a Raspberry Pi Without a Monitor](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/using-a-raspberry-pi-without-a-monitor) BY [Shawn Hymel](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/shawn-hymel) 5/31/18 6:28 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/using-a-raspberry-pi-without-a-monitor#comments-listing) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [raspberry pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The Raspberry Pi is a fantastic little computer that enjoys widespread popularity in the classroom. Teachers are able to use it as an inexpensive platform for teaching a variety of coding concepts. ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/using-a-raspberry-pi-without-a-monitor) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/EDU/BLOG%20Images/December%202017/Summit%20Middle%20School-23.jpg)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/3-ideas-to-go-beyond-computer-science-education-week) ## [3 Ideas to Go Beyond Computer Science Education Week](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/3-ideas-to-go-beyond-computer-science-education-week) BY [Jeff Branson](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/jeff-branson) 12/14/17 6:30 AM [0](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/3-ideas-to-go-beyond-computer-science-education-week#comments-listing) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [Javascript](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/javascript) [Processing](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/processing) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [computer science](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/computer-science) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Last week, educators across the country dug into Computer Science Education week. So this week, I thought I'd offer some thoughts on my go-to programming languages and ways to continue delving into ... [Continue reading](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/3-ideas-to-go-beyond-computer-science-education-week) [![](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/hubfs/Raspi-PGB001.png)](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/getting-started-resources-for-raspberry-pi) ## [Getting Started Resources for Raspberry Pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/getting-started-resources-for-raspberry-pi) BY [Brian Huang](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/author/brian-huang) 7/27/17 7:00 AM [3](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/getting-started-resources-for-raspberry-pi#comments-listing) [teaching tools](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/teaching-tools) [Maker Education](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/maker-education) [python](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/python) [programming](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/programming) [helpful information](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/helpful-information) [raspberry pi](https://blog.sparkfuneducation.com/topic/raspberry-pi) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The Raspberry Pi is a small, single-board computer that is about the size of a deck of cards. It is a computer and not a microcontroller. You can connect a keyboard, mouse and monitor to a Raspberry ... 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