Binary Power in a Convenient Book

Educational activities related to powers of 2, Binary Power is a book designed to help students learn fundamental concepts related to the binary numbering system. This instructional tool includes a range of activities, from deciphering the postal zip code system to investigating computer design and memory.

Leibniz - The History of Binary

Though he initially dismissed the importance of binary numbers, Leibniz was again inspired to develop a system of binary symbols and logic when he came across the Chinese I, Ching. Back in sixty-six (1666, that is), Leibniz couldn't think of a way to apply binary to real life. He did, however, contribute much more...

Read more on Leibniz and the history of Binary!

DigiColor Binary Game

DigiColor has created two versions of their colorful binary counting toy. One small and one large, both plastic games are really cool. Colorful plastic balls travel down a binary tree and land in the appropriate bit bucket to represent the sum of the decimal numbers to the left of each toy. A good way to learn simple binary arithmetic, because four bit binary involves only the decimal numbers 0 -15 and the first four powers of 2.

Howtoons.com Counting in Binary Poster

Beautiful! Drawn by the creative artists at Howtoons.com, this is an excellent demonstration of how to count in binary with your hands (and feet). Fingers and toes are used as binary digits (pun definitely intended), providing a visual reminder that 1 indicates True and 0 indicates False.

Learn how to count in binary with your fingers and toes by downloading the Howtoons.com poster.

Watch an Octopus Count in Binary

Nice! An animated video of an octopus learning how to count in binary. Originally created for an introductory computer science class at Rutgers University. Watch how each tentacle represents one bit. Eight tentacles = eight powers of 2! A great way to teach students how to learn the basics of binary arithmetic.

An Interactive Binary Game from Cisco

From Cisco, this interactive Flash game makes learning how to translate between binary and decimal fun. Rows of blocks continue to generate as you click each bit to turn it on or off. Designed to help students learn binary in preparation for work with IP addresses (the CCNA certification), this is a fantastic example of proprietary learning gone right.

Play the Binary game!

A Binary Marble Adding Machine

Matthias Wandel demonstrates his fantastic creation: A Binary Marble Adding Machine. Made of wood, the machine uses marbles to represent binary digits (6 bits).

Read more about the 6-bit Binary Marble Adding Machine here!.