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

[Dr Paul Chandler]

"Turtle confusion" is a nice little book (though I can't seem to find my
copy).
 
Somewhere in my past, I taught some math-ish concepts using Logo, mainly
geometry.  Could be readily adapted to other languages such as scratch
or Alice.

________________________________

From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Bill Kerr
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 5:47 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] girls, IT, computer literacy


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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