i'm not beyond bribery

Here's an actual note I sent my kids a couple years ago:

If any of you make an app of some kind with this, I will give you an Android device of some kind.  Here's a story about it.  It works pretty nicely with the newest Lego robotics kit (NXT) as well.

Yes, I'm bribing them (with an old phone I had), but the goal as always is to get them making things - versus just using things.  Google has since deprecated app inventor but have released AndroidStudio in its place.  Their goal is to get as many people writing Android apps as possible (i.e., $ for them) but in this case our purposes align.

ps - My daughter claimed the phone a couple days ago.  She signed up for a class at Coursera over winter break and wrote her first Android app.

i love vi

Well, 'vi' (pronounced 'vee eye') happens to be the text editor I've used most of my adult life.  But in this case, I'm referring to Vi Hart.  I'm not sure how some one could watch one of her videos and not fall in love with math.  I mainly suffered though my math classes, but her passion, creativity, and passion make me wish I had dug a little deeper. Asked a few more questions.  My kids really enjoy her videos, but it's usually up to me to sit them down to watch one.

education is everywhere

I've explained to my kids that most of the planet now has access to amazing educational resources.  Code Academy is but one.  If they get stuck on homework, I often let Sal or Vi from KahnAcademy explain a concept to them.  I particularly encouraged them to try something like this Python tutorial.  Having a tool like Python in your arsenal quickly takes you from the world of 'end user' to 'programmer'. 

They have also pursued some Coursera classes, including Python, Cryptography, and Android development.  I find it increasingly difficult to understand how job applicants (including ones I interview) will be able to claim 'my school didn't teach that'.  My primary concern is that people (including my kids) understand the power of online educational resources.

500 free books

Both of my sons enjoy reading, so I thought a Kindle might be of interest.  (It wasn't; they prefer real paper...)  Our local library supports e-readers, but there are also a variety of free online books such as these at openculture.com.  

minecraft

We (well, I) were definitely the first ones on the block to find Minecraft.  The appeal had to do with the open-ended creativity it offered. To the casual observer, it was a low resolution, goofy game.  But you could build stuff.  My son constructed a 2 bit adder - a fundamental piece of the computer you are using right now - using fire, red stone, and a switch.  In this video, we see it taken to a whole other level.  The difference between what we see in this video and the simple adder my son made boils down to effort and determination. 

If you're curious, this video explains how the 'tablet' above works:

the world's smallest movie

I'll admit, this is definitely in the 'isn't science cool!' category, but I still think watching something like this is preferable to shooting zombies in COD.  I'm not against video games per se; I against my kids pining away the hours and (as I see it) avoiding growth and responsibility.  

TED (and TEDx)

I took my son to his first TEDx conference when he was 12.  Probably too young, but something happens at these talks I don't find elsewhere.  The combination of music, science, art conspire to 'exercise' one's mind in a very complete way.  This particular talk wasn't from the conference I attend with my son, but it's a good example of the dialogue that TED opens up.  

[TEDx conferences are independently run versions of the big TED conferences.]

xkcd

In addition to some great comics, XKCD has a great what-if component.  This explanation of orbital velocity (i.e., what does it take to orbit a planet) is a great example.  Some of his stuff goes over my head, but there is plenty for a young teen to enjoy and learn here.