Arthur wrote: > The problem might be the "progress" of Logo since 1983.
Try this on for size: http://education.mit.edu/starlogo-tng/ I saw a demo last week and there is definitely some serious potential in it. Cheers, - Andreas > > When I go to: > > http://el.media.mit.edu/Logo-foundation/logo/programming.html > > I see the potential of Logo in introducing kids to programming > abstraction. One types within the framework of a defined syntax, and > gets immediate results, or informative errors. > > When I take the next step and look at major current implementations - I > downloaded StarLogo and NetLogo - I am confronted with Logo environments > with lots of GUI doo-dads. And lots of ambiguity about the purpose of > this environment. Is its primary focus to introduce programming, or to > explore computer simulations for the benefit of what it is the > simulations teach us. There *is* a fundamental difference. > > It is hard for me not to describe these environments as > "self-involved". That is always the problem with these kinds of > environments - to me. One, in some sense, must "submit" to them, with a > promise of rewards if one does so. But the kids most likely to excell > at Logo are, IMO, also the ones least likely to be the ones comfortable > with submitting to an imposed (not selected) environment. > > The solution is simple - simplicity, less environment. > > Why is this obvious to me, and lost on the MIT folks? > > Art > > >> --- "Paul D. Fernhout" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/27/000248 >> >> >>> Teaching Primary School Students Programming? >>> Posted by Cliff on Saturday August 26, @08:25PM >> >from the toddlers-as-coders dept. >>> Education Programming >>> NotesSensei asks: "Recently I was teasing the >>> teacher who runs the >>> computer club in my sons' primary school: 'You teach >>> the kids only how to >>> use software but not how to make software.' Today I >>> got an email: 'OK, >>> you're in: teach them programming.' Now I wonder >>> what language should I >>> pick? My first lesson will be the board game c-jump, >>> but after that? The >>> contestants are: Kids programming language KPL (ab >>> VB.net derivate; Java >>> using BlueJ; Greenfoot (and the BlueJ); and HTML. >>> Does it sound like I'm >>> on the right track or should I try something >>> completely different? We are >>> looking at primary 3-5 (that's 10-13 in this part of >>> the world). Where can >>> I find inspiration for the curriculum?" >>> >>> === >>> >>> Python is mentioned there, along with a lot of other >>> suggestions. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Edu-sig mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig >>> >>> >>> >> >> __________________________________________________ >> Do You Yahoo!? >> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >> http://mail.yahoo.com >> _______________________________________________ >> Edu-sig mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
