My 10.5 yos wants to learn about how computers work. He'd love

[MJN]

to take one a part and figure out how it goes back together. What would you recommend I get for him to learn more about computers? Is there a website for his age that can teach him? A DVD?

Thanks!

[Jean in Newcastle]

My ds10 got a book from our library on that very thing but unfortunately I don't know the title. But I would definitely look at the library - I bet there are a whole bunch of books and/or DVD's on this subject.

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

to take one a part and figure out how it goes back together. What would you recommend I get for him to learn more about computers? Is there a website for his age that can teach him? A DVD?

Thanks!

Get him a dinosaur off of freecycle and let him have at it as he's learning. Lots of people have those sitting around in basements and spare rooms. We have 4-5 of them that I can't bear to just throw out, but no one wants.

Barb

[Lorna]

There are really two sides to knowing how a computer works: the mechanical side and the programming and design side.


How Things Work (http://www.amazon.com/How-Things-Work-Parents-Technology/dp/0895776944/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209020688&sr=1-3) by Neil Ardley has a project to build a simple computer.


He might also be interested in a study of electronics. Our son loved his plug and play electronics lab and has followed it with the Maxitronix 300-in-1 lab (http://www.mychildplayhouses.com/maxitronix-300-in-1-electronic-project-lab.html) (which comes with an excellent manual and goes up to quite complex projects. The next level up from this (500-in-1) goes into computers.

We prefer Lego Mindstorms for robotic programming. It is used by many universities.

There are also good programming languages for beginners I know but I am afraid we are not at that stage yet and so I can't recommend any in particular.

I hope this helps,
Lorna

[Jean in Newcastle]

My ds10 got a book from our library on that very thing but unfortunately I don't know the title. But I would definitely look at the library - I bet there are a whole bunch of books and/or DVD's on this subject.

I found the book - it is actually ours. It is called "How Computers Work", 2nd ed. by Ron White. It has an Interactive CD-Rom with it.

[Mrs Mungo]

The way to learn about robotics and programming is by doing it.

Easy projects:

This video shows how to make a mini-insectlike robot and has book and kit suggestions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzFCA-xUc8w

Make an LED hula hoop:
http://craftzine.com/06/ledhula/

Check out Make Zine's website, they have tons of computing related projects:
http://makezine.com/