{"id":2395,"date":"2015-12-15T16:23:49","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T22:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/?p=2395"},"modified":"2020-11-30T11:08:41","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T17:08:41","slug":"holiday-gift-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.suny.edu\/onlineteaching\/2015\/12\/15\/holiday-gift-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Gift Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Seasons Greetings!<\/p>\n

Getting the perfect gifts for your techie loved ones\u00a0shouldn’t be hard\u00a0this year. Technology is everywhere<\/em>, and in our line of work, the challenge is not finding technology, it is filtering the really good stuff. The “high octane” tech.\u00a0Although most of you reading this post probably recognize the merits of technology for learning and understand the potential of many of devices out there, perhaps the following list of ideas can still help\u00a0you inspire your loved ones.<\/p>\n

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Raspberry Pi<\/strong>
\nHave you ever wanted to turn your TV into a retro gaming console? Or make a sweet Windows 3.1 experience? Or turn an old monitor into a web browser? Or make a weather station? Or start experimenting with robotics? Then look no further! The Raspberry Pi is your savior. According to their website<\/a>, Raspberry Pi is a “low cost, credit-card sized computer that plugs into a computer monitor or TV. It is a capable little device that enables people of all ages to explore computing, and to learn how to program in languages like Scratch and Python.” Oh yeah. And it’s cheap. For under $50, you can get a sweet starter kit. And you can find Raspberry Pi add-ons as\u00a0stocking stuffers. You can buy both the Raspberry Pi and accessories from many different places, but start at the official Raspberry Pi Products page<\/a>.\u00a0One last thing – because the DIY movement is so big, you can find resources for\u00a0thousands<\/em> of projects online – most of them free (including c|net’s list of 25 cool things<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"Top<\/a>
Raspberry Pi B+ top<\/a>” by Lucasbosch<\/a> – Own work<\/span>. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> via Commons<\/a>.
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MakerSpace Memberships
\n<\/strong>In 2005, a magazine called “Make”<\/a>\u00a0launched. It was a do-it-yourself, bi-monthly publication for hobbyists in woodworking, computing, electronics, robotics, and other disciplines. It spawned “Maker Faire”, a public, annual event to celebrate makers and their creations. An entire movement was launched, and the Maker\/DIY mentality has gained national attention (so much so that Edutopia ran a piece<\/a> about MakerSpaces in schools).\u00a0The gift that keeps on giving for your curious and crafty friend might very well be a membership to their local MakerSpace (you’ll have to do some research about local maker clubs). Membership prices vary by organization, tiers, and location.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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da Vinci 1.0 Junior 3D Printer<\/strong>
\nWith a price tag of $350 (though Amazon tends to sell it for under $300<\/a>), this is (albeit expensive) an amazing gift. It truly does pack a powerful punch (with just under a 6″ maximum in all\u00a0dimensions, the da Vinci 1.0 can print with up to 100 micron resolution). At this price point, you won’t find a more user-friendly or capable 3D printer. Head over to the da Vinci website<\/a> to check it out. Don’t let the moniker “Junior” fool you – this is a big deal in 3D printing. Even c|net has great things to say about it<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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