[Yr7-10it] girls, IT, computer literacy

[Bill Kerr]

rob costello wrote:

I'm looking for ways to attempt some maths teaching with programming
technology and am not sure of the best platform

Eg programming the graphics calc, or logo, logo-lego, picax, Alice, Scratch
– maybe these cricket things

We use picax in the traditional systems technology subject so that might be
viable

 Feels a little odd that is no established body of practice – at least that
I can find - here

Seems to be re-inventing it all over again – as though digital computers
haven't sat along side maths in schools for 30 years already


I'm using scratch to teach maths in combination with a booklet by barry
newell called "turtle confusion"

this features 40 shapes starting from simple squares, triangles etc and
progressively becoming more and more complex

great for geometry, variables  and building complexity from simpler parts

I've written a couple of blogs explaining in some more detail (and will
write more when I have completed more of BN's puzzles)

http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2008/02/one-problem-with-scratch.html
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2008/04/late-binding-scratch-cat.html

sadly the turtle is gone in scratch, replaced by a mundane cat, but logo
lives on

-- 
Bill Kerr
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/



On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 10:14 PM, Costello, Rob R <
Costello.Rob.R at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:

>  Hi Sarah
>
>
>
> Thanks for the links
>
>
>
> That is an interesting paper on Scratch and kindergarten play approaches
>
>
>
> I'm started playing with Scratch with year 9s as have many people – often
> at younger year levels – on this list
>
>
>
> That paper you sent says :
>
>
>
> "Most electronic toys are not in the spirit of Froebel's Gifts, since they
> do not provide children with
>
> opportunities to design or create. Most of today's electronic toys are
> pre-programmed by the toy company.
>
>
>
> ….
>
> "Even in today's participatory culture, very few people are creating and
> sharing *programmable *media (such
>
> interactive characters and interactive games).
>
>
>
> Couldn't agree more …
>
>
>
> >  It's fantastic to see discussion on girls and computing. We are few and
> far between, that is for sure!
>
>
>
> Its interesting - one observation I've noticed is that the ratio of women
> in ICT curriculum and policy positions often seems quite high … eg scanning
> the names in the Victorian elearning unit suggests it might be as high as
> 13:1.
>
>
>
> the general pattern of gender and numbers in courses at school and uni
> level is often the other way  … don't know why … just interesting
>
>
>
> Does STAP do any work with Latrobe in Bendigo?
>
>
>
> I'm looking for ways to attempt some maths teaching with programming
> technology and am not sure of the best platform
>
>
>
> Eg programming the graphics calc, or logo, logo-lego, picax, Alice,
> Scratch – maybe these cricket things
>
>
>
> We use picax in the traditional systems technology subject so that might
> be viable
>
>
>
> Feels a little odd that is no established body of practice – at least that
> I can find - here
>
>
>
> Seems to be re-inventing it all over again – as though digital computers
> haven't sat along side maths in schools for 30 years already
>
>
>
> Eg that paper you sent also says of Logo – which should be the mother of
> all educational programming in maths, that
>
>
>
> In a critique of the Logo programming language, for example, Marvin Minsky
> [10] noted that Logo has a great grammar
>
> but not much literature. Whereas young writers are often inspired by the
> great works of literature that they read,
>
> there is no analogous library of great Logo projects to inspire young
> programmers – and no outlets where young
>
> programmers can share their Logo projects with others.
>
>
>
> So we're back to "scratch" !
>
>
>
> Really seems hard work to me  - no wonder its so hard to change maths
> teaching – if even Logo doesn't have exciting "literature" to match its
> grammar (that comment was 1986 though)
>
>
>
> Rob
>
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