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Overview

Welcome to the Tinko Teacher Guide! This section will help you understand what Tinko is, how it can enhance your classroom, and how to get started.

What is Tinko?

Tinko is an educational platform that runs on a Raspberry Pi computer, designed specifically for interactive classroom activities. It combines physical hardware (LEDs, sensors, touch pads) with a web-based dashboard that you control from any device on your network.

Why Use Tinko?

Engage Students with Physical Interaction

Traditional classroom management often relies on verbal instructions. Tinko adds a visual, interactive element that captures students' attention:

  • Noise Monitor: Students see immediate visual feedback (colored LEDs) when the classroom gets too loud
  • Touch Piano: Students learn about circuits by touching conductive materials (bananas, foil, copper tape)
  • Activity Timer: Visual countdown with LED progress bar keeps students aware of time remaining
  • Routines: Text-to-speech guidance for warm-ups and transitions

Easy to Use

You don't need to be technical to use Tinko:

  • Simple web interface accessible from any device
  • One-click activation of activities
  • Automatic background operation - activities continue even when you switch pages
  • Clear visual indicators and status messages

Customizable

Make Tinko your own:

  • Set your school name and upload your logo
  • Customize the robot's name
  • Configure plugin settings to match your classroom needs
  • Support for multiple languages (English and Romanian)

Classroom Use Cases

Transition Management

Use the Activity Timer to manage transitions between activities:

  • Set a 2-minute timer for cleanup time
  • LED shows green (plenty of time), then yellow (hurry up), then red (time's up)
  • Students learn to manage their time visually

Classroom Noise Control

Activate the Noise Monitor during group work:

  • LED changes from green to yellow to red based on noise level
  • Students self-regulate when they see the color change
  • Dual LEDs show both instant noise and session average

Sensory Breaks

Use the Touch Piano for sensory activities:

  • Students touch bananas or foil connected to GPIO pins
  • Each touch plays a musical note
  • Combines music, electronics, and tactile learning

Daily Routines

Automate your daily routines with the Routines plugin:

  • Play hand-warming exercises before writing
  • Guide breathing exercises for calming transitions
  • USB presenter control allows you to advance from anywhere in the room

Understanding the Interface

Apps vs Plugins

Tinko uses two terms for the same thing:

  • Plugins (technical term): Software modules that extend functionality
  • Apps (teacher term): What you see on your dashboard

When you open the dashboard, you'll see cards for each "App" - these are the plugins you can activate.

The Dashboard

The main dashboard at http://localhost:8000/ shows:

  • All installed apps with icons
  • Click any app to open it
  • Language selector in the top navigation
  • Settings link for configuration

Next Steps

Ready to get started?

  1. Installation - Install Tinko on your Raspberry Pi
  2. First Steps - Create your admin account and explore
  3. Dashboard - Learn to navigate the interface
  4. Settings - Personalize Tinko for your school

Or jump to specific plugin guides: