The more I think about turtle graphics, the more I think some enterprising faculty is going to spin it as a way to intersect multiple languages around a common topic, plus there's the "sharing with kids" memeplex, anything but simple, so lots of ways to spin within the spin.
Translation: why not start with Logo, the granddaddy language in this context, then explore the forks, whether with all the regalia is up to the teacher e.g. talk about Mindstorms and Lego Robotics (note pun on Lego/Logo) and use this as a leaping off point to robotics more generally. Along another fork: we move into Python (a huge territory). As long time readers of this archive likely already know: there's some move afoot to organize a curriculum (your option to use or not use) such that we go avatar -> immersion -> behind the scenes. What this means is: piloting some "self" in various contexts is the motif of many games (shooters included), as in turtle graphics; then you need an environment; then you get curious to see "how people do it" (so you can come up with new designs closer to your dreams). What's so good about Python in particular is the 'self' metaphor, while not a keyword, is very explicit and clear, enabling multiple turtles right out of the box. The original Logo was more seeing the turtle as a "one and only" like a console or other i/o device. The idea of "several" gets implemented in various derivatives. Kirby _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
