• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
ClassThink

ClassThink

School Technology Guides

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • HOME
  • LATEST
  • Featured
  • School App Search
    • Search
    • Dashboard
    • Directory Login
  • TEACHER GUIDES
    • Microsoft Teams
      • Microsoft Teams Teacher’s Hub
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • Microsoft Stream
    • Microsoft Office
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Microsoft OneNote
    • Microsoft Office
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Microsoft Windows
    • Microsoft SDS
    • Google Classroom
    • Google Meet
    • Zoom
  • REVIEWS
  • NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT
    • Contact Us
    • About ClassThink
    • Support ClassThink
    • Write for ClassThink
    • Advertising and Sponsorship
You are here: Home / Raspberry Pi / Raspberry Pi: Getting Started

Raspberry Pi: Getting Started

29 March 2015 by Karl Rivers Leave a Comment

A simple guide for teachers getting started with Raspberry Pi.

If you have a classroom of Raspberry Pi’s or just one to get set up, the task may look daunting to start with. Out of the box you may only have the basic Raspberry Pi and nothing else. So how do you get it up and running? Well the way I have found easiest is to use the Raspberry Pi foundations new “New Out Of Box Software” as with this you only need a Windows formatted SD Card.

  1. Download “New Out Of Box Software (NOOBS)” from here – http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
  2. Download the SD Card Association’s Formatting Tool – https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
    1. Insert an SD Card into your Windows Computer (you can either use a built-in SD Card reader, or any USB SD Card reader for this)
    2. Open the SDFormatter application
    3. Ensure the correct SD Card is selected in the “Drive” Drop Down selection
    4. Click the “Options” Button
    5. Set the “Format Size Adjustment” option to ON
    6. Come out of the Options panel
    7. Click “Format” and then “OK” to the warning prompt
  3. When the application finishes formatting the card Open the “NOOBS” zip file (Windows folder compression will open it as a folder)
  4. Extract the contents of the ZIP onto your freshly formatted SD Card (Please make sure any folders are kept as they are)

You have now prepared the SD Card for use on a Raspberry Pi and the next steps will show you how to use this to get a Raspberry Pi running.

Configuring the Raspberry Pi

Now you have a prepared SD Card you need to insert this label down into the SD Card slot of the Raspberry Pi (it will protrude from the edge of the Raspberry Pi – this is normal).

Locate a network port and cable where you can run this from for the first time (you will be able to set up a wifi-card later). If you are doing this with your class (a good way to show them how it works!) then you will need a HDMI monitor, keyboard and mouse. If none of you monitors have a HDMI slot, you will need a converter

  • VGA to HDMI (Blue ended cables) – http://uk.farnell.com/element14/piview/adapter-raspberry-pi-hdmi-to-vga/dp/2133899 (you can buy these from Amazon, or eBay as well – but they may not all work with the Pi)
  • DVI to HDMI (White ended cables) – http://www.amazon.co.uk/iZKA-Raspberry-Hdmi-Cable-Meter/dp/B00BF9HGAC (You can buy these from various places and all should work)

Plug all the devices into the Raspberry Pi, then plug the power in

Your Pi will now boot up and bring up NOOBS and will give a list of operating systems you can install. If you do not see anything on your connected display then you can do the press the following keys on the keyboard:

  1. HDMI mode (Default)
  2. HDMI Safe Mode – This mode will help if your HDMI display does not display an image
  3. Composite PAL mode – This mode is for people using a Composite RCA Connector
  4. Composite NTSC Mode – for people using NTSC Monitors

From here you can pick one of the displayed operating systems to install and run. I would recommend Raspbian “Wheezy” as the best option for people wanting to use their Pi for programming as it comes with a Graphical interface, Scratch programming language, python and SSH out of the box.

Grab yourself a Raspberry Pi from Amazon.

You might also like...

Filed Under: Raspberry Pi

This page contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on the links to these products. For an explanation of our Affiliate Policy, please visit this page.

About Karl Rivers

Karl Rivers is a Director of IT who has worked in education for more than twenty years. He won the Naace Impact Award for Supporting School Services.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

You might also like...

Popular School Apps

  • Bromcom Computers Plc

    Bromcom Computers Plc

    MIS/SIS System

  • CleverTouch

    CleverTouch

    Classroom Screens & Projectors

  • Capita SIMS

    Capita SIMS

    MIS/SIS System +3 Parent Communications, Parent Portal, Parents Evenings,

  • Wakelet

    Wakelet

    Learning Platform +1 Social Bookmarking,

  • BKSK

    BKSK

    Assessments +1 Educational Games & Quizzes,

Latest Edtech News

Virtual breakout rooms for Microsoft Teams – everything you need to know

Download the free OneNote for Team Collaboration eBook

New Surface Laptop Go Announced

Featured

Best Chromebooks for students in 2021

Create beautiful infographics for your classroom

Record online lessons with Camtasia

Naace Impact Awards Winner

Footer

Recent

  • Best Chromebooks for students in 2021
  • Create beautiful infographics for your classroom
  • Virtual breakout rooms for Microsoft Teams – everything you need to know
  • Record online lessons with Camtasia
  • Download the free OneNote for Team Collaboration eBook
  • New Surface Laptop Go Announced
  • Managing Windows 10 in schools with Intune and Autopilot
  • How to stop students unmuting themselves in Microsoft Teams
  • How to spotlight students & demonstrations in Microsoft Teams meetings
  • How to record a PowerPoint presentation as a video
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Recent Forum Topics

  • JvFHf5vfJ HyVSv2mpZ
  • Use VPN Security
  • How less is more with application development
  • How Much Does it Cost to Make an App like Uber
  • Microsoft Team class not appearing for teacher but is correct in Teams admin
  • FCM Test Notification!!! message in Microsoft Teams
  • FAQ: Can students begin a meeting in a private channel in Microsoft Teams
  • Microsoft Lists for Education
  • Benefits of hiring a ghostwriter
  • Things You Need To Make An Android App

Most Popular Posts

  • How to turn off chat for students in Microsoft Teams
  • How to stop students muting and kicking others in Microsoft Teams video meetings
  • How to delete a video from Microsoft Teams
  • How to record and share a lesson in Microsoft Teams
  • How to enable Large Gallery view and Together Mode in Microsoft Teams
  • How to mute students in Microsoft Teams
  • How to record a PowerPoint presentation as a video
  • Virtual breakout rooms for Microsoft Teams - everything you need to know
  • How to set and mark an assignment in Microsoft Teams
  • Set students to attendee by default in Microsoft Teams meetings
  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 · ClassThink.com · Affiliate Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Here's the secret · Log in