Python in Education

4  |  Chapter 1: The Story of Python

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We aim to provide each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power,

connected laptop. To this end, we have designed hardware, content

and software for collaborative, joyful, and self-empowered learning.

With access to this type of tool, children are engaged in their own

education, and learn, share, and create together. They become con‐

nected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future.

The user interface and applications for the OLPC were written in

Python. Over 2.5 million children and teachers in 42 countries have

such laptops.

Perhaps the most famous and successful computing-in-education

project in history is the 

Raspberry Pi

 (with over 5 million devices

delivered so far). Unsurprisingly, Python is at the heart of the

project. The next chapter is a case study exploring why the Rasp‐

berry Pi Foundation chose to focus on Python and how this has led

to some unexpected yet wonderful outcomes.