OKdo Signs A Global Partnership Deal with Piper, Inc., the Leading Educational Technology Manufacturer
London, UK
15th January 2020
OKdo, the global technology company from Electrocomponents, has announced a master distribution and manufacturing agreement with Piper, Inc., with exclusivity in the European Union. This partnership is another example of OKdo’s commitment to bringing technology to life for future generations.
The first product to be released by OKdo as a part of this partnership is the Piper Computer Kit, which is powered by the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B single board computer.
The Piper Computer Kit engages children ages 8+ in hands-on STEAM learning to understand computers from the inside out. It includes all of the hardware needed to build a fully functioning computer by following visuals on its engineering blueprint. It also includes the components that create its outer shell, giving the Piper Computer its unique wooden aesthetic; a bringing together of nature’s finest material and the latest technology. Once the computer is built, learners enter StoryMode, a narrative-based game using the Raspberry Pi Edition of Minecraft. In StoryMode, children progress through a series of challenges to build physical circuits and discover electronics such as breadboards, buttons, LEDs, buzzers, and switches. After developing an understanding of circuitry, users complete physical computing projects in PiperCode, a programming environment that uses Google Blockly; a drag and drop visual coding language enabling students to modify and change how their electronics work on Raspberry Pi. The Piper software comes with tutorials that teach coding principles and is currently offered in English with localized subtitles in Mandarin, French, Spanish, and Japanese. Once children have mastered foundational STEAM skills in StoryMode and PiperCode, they are empowered to create and invent using their Piper Computer Kit.
Dave Lundgren, Piper’s CEO, explains “The Piper Computer Kit is unique in the way it demystifies technology by teaching kids to use Raspberry Pi and assemble a working computer, learning engineering principles through an engaging software experience. Piper helps kids develop 21st century skills which are crucial to solving tomorrow’s challenges and building digital fluency for the future workforce.”
The Piper Computer Kit is utilized in thousands of schools and homes around the world. Piper provides robust curriculum as well as support for educators to ensure a successful classroom experience. Since the Piper Computer Kit is designed to be deconstructed and reused multiple times, it is an ideal solution for teaching STEAM in schools.
Richard Curtin, OKdo’s SVP of Technology and Partnerships said “We’re incredibly proud to announce the partnership with Piper, whose Piper Computer Kit is unrivalled in the market for its ability to inspire future generations of engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs. Bringing coding and computer science to life for children and educators is front and centre of what OKdo is all about.”
OKdo and Piper will be attending Bett, the UK’s leading educational technology event, on 22-25th January and will showcase brand new technology products specifically designed for the education sector. Visitors will have the opportunity to play with and use the Piper Computer Kit on the stand. As well as providing hands-on demonstrations, OKdo will be giving away 10 Kits throughout the event, with the opportunity to walk through its capability and potential directly with the team who created it.
RRP for the Piper Computer Kit is £299. It is available for sale today at, www.okdo.com.
About OKdo
OKdo is a new global technology company from Electrocomponents (LSE:ECM) set to disrupt single board computer (SBC) and IoT segments. Offering a unique combination of hardware, software, development support, manufacturing services and community projects, it is the world’s first business uniquely focused on meeting the rapidly evolving needs of SBC and IoT customers, from makers and entrepreneurs to industrial designers, educators and resellers.
For more information: www.OKdo.com.
About Piper
Founded in 2014, Piper, Inc. is an award-winning edtech start-up providing best in class STEAM education opportunities. From its headquarters in San Francisco, CA, Piper creates compelling STEAM learning experiences for individual learners and for schools. Through student-centered, hands-on STEAM education experiences that reflect the most current pedagogy, Piper supports educators, students and classrooms. Piper builds confidence in STEAM through project-based learning, spreads digital fluency to students and learners of all backgrounds and inspires the inventors of tomorrow.
Press contact:
fran.hipgrave@okdo.com