Just came across this reference which might be of interest to people here: Ivan Kalas, Andrej Blaho: Exploring visible mathematics with IMAGINE: Building new mathematical cultures with a powerful computational system. Learning in School, Home and Community 2002: 53-64
http://www.informatik.uni-trier.de/~ley/db/indices/a-tree/k/Kalas:Ivan.html Link to the first few pages: http://books.google.com/books?id=6smPFdJQy1sC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=exploring+visible+mathematics+with+imagine+building+new+mathematical+cultures+with+a+powerful+computational+system&source=web&ots=zH27OaC5dl&sig=WmPwNW7KL5szKw5SXHu3fzJDnl4#PPA53,M1 Abstract: "In our paper we explore how programmable pictures together with events, parallel independent processes and direct manipulation tools can be used for building powerful interactive elements and provide rich environments for exploring basic mathematical concepts. To visualize the concepts we use IMAGINE turtles, the shapes of which are specified in the Logo language. Thus we achieve high interactivity in the resulting microworlds. Children can easily create such objects, control them, combine, move, group, match, etc. We hope that new features of IMAGINE will inspire math teachers and developers to create new visible educational materials." From the book: _Learning in School, Home and Community: Ict for Early and Elementary Education_ "Schools, homes and communities, including after-care centres, resource centres and libraries, have increased and acquired more technologies, and a wider range of applications are being used. Research shows that students use ICT differently in each setting. School-based technology use is often viewed by students as routine and disconnected from their interests and abilities. Many teachers are hesitant as to how to teach about ICT and, at the same time, integrate ICT into subject-based learning. Parents and the community-at-large have goals that differ from the goals espoused by teachers and students. This volume highlights the concerns of all - students, teachers, parents, policy makers and the general public.Major themes in Learning in School, Home and Community: ICT for Early and Elementary Education include: *Teachers' and researchers' studies of ICT use in school, home and community. *National strategies and policies affecting ICT use in school, home and community. *ICT tools designed to promote learning and the optimal settings to promote learning. *School and community responses to ICT use that promote the integration of ICT for all members of the community. This volume contains the selected proceedings of the Working Conference on Learning with Technologies in School, Home and Community, which was sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and held June 30-July 5, 2002 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Contributions from experts around the world, working as teachers, teacher educators, researchers and government officials, make this volume an essential contribution to the development and implementation of ICT policies andprograms for schools, homes and communities." [Note: Personally I do not think computers an apropriate way for kids to spend much of their time before, say, age seven.] Related with online content: "Imagine… a new generation of Logo: programmable pictures" http://www.ifip.org/con2000/iceut2000/iceut12-05.pdf http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:64_IL0jHjlUJ:www.ifip.org/con2000/iceut2000/iceut12-05.pdf+%22programmable+pictures%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 "In 2000 we completed the development of a new generation of Logo environments containing a radical combination of the direct manipulation interface and rich interactive programming language." Not open source it seems, and so had dropped by the wayside or become marginalized? --Paul Fernhout _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
