Archimedes
Moderator
Registered: 02/22/08
Posts: 26
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| | 02/24/08 at 09:16 PM | Reply with quote | #1 |
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PIC (Programmable Intelligent Computer) chips are single chip, flash- programmable microcontrollers produced by Microchip Technology. Five billion of them have been produced to date and can be found in almost every programmable device. Programming them is easy using the Flow Chart designer program 'Logicator', and more difficult if you an industrial PLC.
How familiar are teachers of the Engineering Diploma likely to be with this software and the associated techniques? What help would they welcome in its use?
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ajbooker
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 3
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| | 04/20/08 at 09:05 PM | Reply with quote | #2 |
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Most DT teachers delivering any Electronics or Systems from KS3 onwards woudl know about them.
The most popular are Picaxe as they have a bootstrap on them and can be programmed on chip with a very good programmer made up of half a dozen very low cost components, and linked to a computer running a number of porogramming packages (including the free picaxe one) with a low cost serial to 3.5mm stereo lead. Unfortunately the teaching materials, while extensive, do not particulary suit beginners. This is the reason for the success of various competitors such as ladder logic etc.. which do not always assume electronics abilities.
Personally I favour Circuit Wizard which is a fantastic piece of software from New Wave Concepts, and is due/has the ability to simulate PIC's on screen on students own PCB designs and be fully editable, including a flowsheet type programmer. Economatics is good, but it requires the student to link between the on screen and the reality of their work. Circuit Wizard is an all in one tool with excellent flexibility.
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sav5000
Registered: 04/17/08
Posts: 9
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| | 04/20/08 at 09:22 PM | Reply with quote | #3 |
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Hi Archimedes
Electronic Products teachers will be well versed with PIC's the GCSE specification has advocated the development of PIC projects in recent years.
Picaxe is an excellent resource. Economatics Logicator is good but they keep charging for those insignificant software updates! unlike revolution education who charge well nothing!!!! incidentally economatics went bust in january 2008 and have been bought out.
However many schools simply do not deliver electronics or systems and control beyond KS3. Many schools do not have an electronics specialist.
So your average Graphics or RM teacher will not know much about PICs
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Archimedes
Moderator
Registered: 02/22/08
Posts: 26
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| | 09/30/08 at 10:19 AM | Reply with quote | #4 |
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Many thanks for these observations.
Where schools are part of a consortium doing Engineering, teachers of Resistant Materials or Graphics may welcome some top-up training in using PIC chips and associated electronics.
'Logicator for PIC micros' has just been released as a shareware product. This means that every teacher can use a full version of it for personal use for free. This will no doubt help as a first step, but we should perhaps invite Revolution Education who supply the PICAXE system, to consider offering some training as well.
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