squeakland June 2011

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13 participants
32 discussions

Expresándonos con Etoys / Expressing ourselves with Etoys
by Carlos Rabassa 01 Jul '11

01 Jul '11

English text follows Spanish text Hace unos pocos días leímos sobre vehículos con ruedas cuadradas. Funcionan suavemente sin inclinarse. Usamos Etoys para entender y explicar como funcionan estas ruedas cuadradas. El secreto está en hacerlas rodar sobre caminos ondulados. Este proyecto Etoys muestra cómo construir un camino ondulado adecuado, agregando material, que se muestra en púrpura, sobre la superficie lisa del camino original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gDMPYPrxmY El video también muestra los únicos guiones requeridos para hacer que la rueda cuadrada ruede sobre el camino mientras que el vehículo, representado por la línea verde, se mantiene horizontal y a altura constante. Estos son algunos vehículos con ruedas cuadradas: Auto de 4 ruedas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwgvjTDgFxM Bicicleta de 2 ruedas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hs1wcvhguM Triciclo con 3 ruedas de tamaños diferentes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjUbkzfJGp4&NR=1 English text starts here A few days ago we read about square-wheeled vehicles. They offer smooth rides, without tilting. We used Etoys to understand and explain how this square wheels work. The secret is to roll them on undulated roads. This Etoys project shows how to build a road with the adequate undulation, by adding material, shown in purple, on the flat origianl surface of the road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gDMPYPrxmY The video also shows all the scripts required to make the square wheel roll over the road while the vehicle´s body, represented by the green line, stays horizontal and always at the same height. These are some square wheeled vehicles: 4-wheel car http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwgvjTDgFxM 2-wheel bicycle model http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hs1wcvhguM 3-wheel tricycles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjUbkzfJGp4&NR=1 Carlos Rabassa Voluntario Red de Apoyo al Plan Ceibal Montevideo, Uruguay

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next education team meeting today
by Rita Freudenberg 30 Jun '11

30 Jun '11

We will have our next meeting today, June 30 at 1 pm EDT / 10 am PDT. We will discuss the plans for the new book, reflect on the discussion with Ana Maria Vacca from last week and everything else what is coming up! Let me know if you want to join us! We use Skype, so I need your Skype name in order to call you. Greetings, Rita

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Sugar, ¿Promueve conceptos obsoletos? / Sugar, does it promote obsolete concepts?
by Carlos Rabassa 27 Jun '11

27 Jun '11

English text follows Spanish text Pregunto porque quiero aprender. Este es un pedido desesperado de información de alguien que quiere aprender y ayudar a otros a aprender. No represento a ningún grupo, son mis preguntas personales. Pienso que muchos otros tienen preguntas similares y desearían oír a los que saben, compartiendo las respuestas para todos nosotros. Trataré, como siempre, de traducir al Español o al Inglés las respuestas y / o comentarios que contengan información útil, que se reciban en uno solo de los dos idiomas. Sugar, ¿Promueve conceptos obsoletos? https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1ex0ECwI5N08IbbmpQnxf71p3h6-D5iQeNn… Gracias desde ya. English text starts here I ask because I want to learn. This is a desperate request for information from someone who wants to learn and to help others to learn. I do not represent any group. These are my own questions. I believe many others have similar questions and would like to have those who know, to share their answers with all of us. I will try, as usual, to translate to Spanish or to English all answers and / or comments containing useful information, received in only one of the two languages. Sugar, does it promote obsolete concepts? https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Hi-FPJzv1Wj90x0vkjeqkHJbwHiVDKyJFH… Thanks in advance. English text ends here Carlos Rabassa Voluntario Red de Apoyo al Plan Ceibal Montevideo, Uruguay

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Fraction Cutter - Amazing what you can do with a few scripting tiles
by Steve Thomas 26 Jun '11

26 Jun '11

In working on my Fraction A Day<http://mrstevesscience.blogspot.com/search/label/Fraction%20A%20Day> project I built a "Fraction Cutter<http://www.squeakland.org/showcase/project.jsp?id=11020> " I was able to build this with just 11 scripting tiles in Etoys (could have got it down to 7, but went for readability). The first page lets you make only 1 cut, the second lets you make multiple cuts. I had to put a playfield on top of the "unit" (aka rectangle, which is in a gridded playfield) so that I could allow you to "clear the cuts" by simply using the Playfields "remove all" tile from the collections category, without removing my unit and having to put it back each time. Next I am thinking about using polygons as my "units" so I can visually show the cut by duplicating the polygon and modifying the vertices to points where they intersect the cut. Then I will "animate the cut" by moving the polygon's apart. This should scale to multiple cuts without code changes (using the Playfield's "tell all contents" tile from the scripting category). Well at least I think it should testing and the mandatory debugging that occurs anytime I write code will tell ;) Here is a Etoys Minute showing it in action. The other amazing thing is that this Etoys Minute is actually less than a minute ;) Stephen

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Lucky Fraction #13
by Steve Thomas 25 Jun '11

25 Jun '11

We are lucky to have a "Fraction of the Day" from Randy Caton, who developed a beautiful and fun project Polygon Challenge 1<http://www.squeakland.org/showcase/project.jsp?id=11022> . He wrote some squeak to create his own Etoy tiles for the polygon object (look out Bert, you have competition!!!) He is still working on improving it so keep a watch on the squeakland<http://www.squeakland.org>site for updates (hmmm, a watch this project feature would be nice :) Here is the Blog Post: Fraction A Day - Day 13 - Randy's Polygon Challenge<http://mrstevesscience.blogspot.com/2011/06/fraction-day-day-13-randys-poly…> And here is the link to a demonstration of Randy's beautiful project:<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHESTvOFqnI> Stephen

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education meeting notes
by Rita Freudenberg 24 Jun '11

24 Jun '11

Dear educators, here are the meeting notes from our last meeting(s)! In our meeting yesterday we had a great discussion with Ana Maria Vacca from the Catholic university of Montevideo about Squeakfest, how to build on that, how to follow up, how can we support the teachers and students to use Etoys in the classroom. Ana Maria told us about the current situation in Uruguay, where most of the teachers are not using the computer in new ways. For instance, when starting Etoys, they see the book, that reminds them of power point and this is the way they use Etoys. Her aim is to help them use the computer in powerful ways, to use it to enhance learning. That requires a change in teaching. Marta stated that we need to think beyound the classroom, that the educational system needs to change. The coordinators in the educational systems need to understand, why learning powerful ideas is worthwhile. One of her ideas was to compare the traditional teaching to teaching powerful ideas. We also need to explain the value of Etoys and constructionist learning to the parents. We will continue the discussion, we will connect with the education team at Plan Ceibal and talk about the ceibal portal. We would like to put more information about Etoys there, especially a forum where teachers and users can ask questions and get answers. Ana Maria will take a closer look at Etoys, especially on Randy's projects. Then we can make more concrete plans. Until then, Randy suggested we start a new book for teachers to help them to introduce Etoys in their classrooms. We will start with an outline soon. Thank you all for a great meeting! Here you can find the chat log: http://wiki.squeakland.org/display/sq/2011/06/24/education+team+meeting+Jun… Greetings, Rita

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Re: [squeakland] [Sur] Pregunta acerca de educacion de adultos en Uruguay A question about adult education in Uruguay
by Carlos Rabassa 24 Jun '11

24 Jun '11

Translation of message below, posted by Rosamel N. Ramírez M., the Principal of the school a few of us visited during the Conozco Uruguay Tour in early May: ========== Of course there are! The M.E.C. Centers (Education and Culture Ministry) are all over Uruguay. There are classes for adults, libraries where a Professor is waiting for them and offers courses, with computers they can use freely, even printing something if necessary. Many mothers with school children, for example, went there to take courses when their children showed up at home with the XOs. As far as I know, the courses teach Windows, not Linux. However, the positive side is they feel someone is available for them, hours are convenient for them, they have a first contact with internet surfing, using mail and using the social networks. Later, they may stay in touch online. Regards, Rosamel ========= Carlos Rabassa Volunteer Plan Ceibal Support Network Montevideo, Uruguay On Jun 24, 2011, at 9:49 AM, rosamel norma ramirez mendez wrote: > Claro que hay! Los Centros M.E.C. (Ministerio de Educación y Cultura) pululan en Uruguay. Hay clases para adultos, hay Bibliotecas donde les espera un Profesor y les da cursos, con derecho a uso libre de las computadoras y a imprimir algo si es necesario. > Muchas madres, por ejemplo, de los escolares, cuando sus hijos aparecieron con sus XO, fueron a tomar cursos. > Pero hasta donde yo sé, no les dan cursos de Linux, sino de windows, sin embargo lo positivo es que sientan que alguien está disponible para ellas, que les arreglan los horarios, que tienen un primer contacto con la navegación en internet, hacerse un correo y usar las redes sociales. > Luego pueden seguir en contacto online. > Saludos Rosamel > > > > Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:08:15 -0500 > > From: yamaplos(a)gmail.com > > To: olpc-Sur(a)lists.laptop.org > > Subject: [Sur] Pregunta acerca de educacion de adultos en Uruguay A question about adult education in Uruguay > > > > Alan Kay pregunta si hay algún tipo de cursos libres para adultos en > > Uruguay, tal vez en bibliotecas públicas online. > > > > Le he comentado acerca de los Curso de educacion postescolar a > > distancia, de mis tiempos jóvenes. ¿alguien sabe si siguen existiendo? > > ¿ o si hay otras alternativas? > > > > (En Estados Unidos casi toda biblioteca pública tiene una partida de > > computadoras para uso libre por el público, la intención es que la gente > > pueda beneficiarse de las oportunidades educativas que se acceden por > > internet. Hay gente que se va allí a pasar el día, como cuando yo iba al > > Mcdonalds de Ciudad Vieja en 1994.. :-) ) > > > > > > > > On 06/23/2011 03:47 AM, Simon Schampijer wrote: > > > On 06/22/2011 09:25 PM, Alan Kay wrote: > > >> Hi folks, > > >> > > >> I posted the Ceibal video to Mark Guzdial's blog ... and here is a > > >> question from > > >> it that seems interesting and important (I'd like to know also). > > >> > > >> On a related topic, does Uruguay have anything like free online > > >> courses for > > >> adults, perhaps available in public libraries? > > >> > > >> Cheers, > > >> > > >> Alan > > > > > > Hi Alan, > > > > > > there are two portals that I am aware of: > > > > > > Uruguay Educa [1]: educative material for teachers, school children > > > and parents > > > > > > Plan Ceibal Portal [2]: material for the use with the XO for teachers, > > > school children and parents > > > > > > Regards, > > > Simon > > > > > > [1] http://uruguayeduca.edu.uy > > > [2] http://ceibal.edu.uy > > > _______________________________________________ > > > IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) > > > IAEP(a)lists.sugarlabs.org > > > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Lista olpc-Sur > > olpc-Sur(a)lists.laptop.org > > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-sur > _______________________________________________ > Lista olpc-Sur > olpc-Sur(a)lists.laptop.org > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-sur

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Fwd: [Olpc-uruguay] Problema
by Carlos Rabassa 22 Jun '11

22 Jun '11

Translation of this interesting message that came up a few moments ago in the OLPC-Uruguay list: ======= Subject: Problem Greetings, I am writing from the "Salinas 2" High School in a state of total indignation. Let me tell you: I found students in my high school who are installing Windows 7 in the "Magallanes [name of the model, made in Portugal, I believe] computers. Maybe it looks like a silly idea but I think it is wrong, it goes against the plan [Plan Ceibal] and the idea of free software. The truth is I don´t know what to do.... Thanks. Lara ======= Would be nice if we could send our best answer or answers to this desperate educator. Interesting, Lara's email address translates as "homework". Guess not knowing her name is not an excuse for not reading about homework. Thanks, Carlos Rabassa Volunteer Plan Ceibal Support Network Montevideo, Uruguay Begin forwarded message: > From: lara rodriguez <tareasdomiciliarias(a)gmail.com> > Date: June 22, 2011 1:31:20 PM GMT-03:00 > To: Ana Rosa Cantos <educacionmedia(a)plan.ceibal.edu.uy> > Subject: [Olpc-uruguay] Problema > Reply-To: Comunidad ceibalJAM <olpc-uruguay(a)lists.laptop.org> > > Estimados: > Les escribo desde el Liceo de Salinas 2 en estado anímico de indignación total, les cuento: > encontre alumnos de mi leceo que están instalando en las Magallanes Windows7. Talvez parezca una tontera pero esta mal va contra el plan y la idea del sofware libre. La verdad que no se que hacer... > Muchas gracias.Lara > _______________________________________________ > Olpc-uruguay mailing list > Olpc-uruguay(a)lists.laptop.org > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-uruguay

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Aprendiendo de la realidad: Avión baja sobre río. / Learning from reality: Airplane touches down on river.
by Carlos Rabassa 20 Jun '11

20 Jun '11

English text follows the Spanish text Este video es una simulación de un vuelo y accidente real: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tE_5eiYn0D0#t=109 Poco después de despegar, los motores se le apagaron después de tragar algunos gansos que se le cruzaron. Los pilotos lograron bajar sobre un río cercano, sin víctimas. El avión, en condiciones aparentemente no muy malas, fue retirado del río. Hace poco tiempo lo trasladaron por carretera a un museo: http://holanoticias.com/charlotte/?p=14567 Imagino que, los educadores tal vez puedan usarlo como base para introducir muchísimos temas en sus labores diarias de enseñanza. Pienso que el video puede mostrar la relación entre lo que se aprende en los institutos de enseñanza y la vida real de los adultos en sus trabajos. "¿Para qué me va a servir esto?" sospecho es una pregunta muy frecuente a todos los niveles de aprendizaje, en todos los países, en todos los tiempos. El tema está muy bien explicado en el video "Squeakers" que oí se repartiría durante Squeakfest Uruguay 2011. Si no se hizo así, y aún interesa, tengo un CD original en Inglés con subtítulos en varios idiomas, que entiendo se puede copiar legalmente. Seymour Papert lo explica muy bien en su libro "Mindstorms". Para los que no les haya llegado ninguna de las dos cosas: Video de Seymour Papert: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7q79cx_307cftmhgwt Algunos de los temas para los cuales se podría usar este video como base de discusiones: ========== Los pájaros cerca de aeropuertos son un problema en muchos lugares del mundo, incluyendo Uruguay. Este video explica muy bien, cómo se encara el problema en el Aeropuerto Nacional de Carrasco que, sirve al área metropolitana de Montevideo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sRIPVYkB3U ¿Cuántos estudiantes de hoy saben que existen trabajos como los de estas personas en el video? ¿Cuántas personas imaginaban que en Uruguay hay gente que contribuye con medios muy naturales y amigos del medio ambiente, a resolver problemas creados por los aviones? ========== Todos aceptamos viajar en avión porque nos ayuda mucho. No por eso los aviones dejan de ser una tremenda intrusión en el medio ambiente y grandes consumidores de recursos no renovables. Muchos de los críticos que oímos constantemente, cambiarían su actitud frente a muchos problemas, si pudiesen ver oír tanto las opiniones a favor como las contrarias, para cada tema. ¿Tendría sentido dejar de volar, y volver a usar caballos como hacen los Amish? http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish ¿Y si lo hiciésemos, nadie nos criticaría? Las cuatro etapas de crueldad http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_cuatro_etapas_de_crueldad ========== El mundo no es perfecto. Debemos criticar lo que no nos parece bien o que pensamos podría ser mejor. Debemos responder a los que nos critican con nuestras mejores respuestas. Debemos usar la tecnología moderna para compartir estos diálogos. Así todos aprenderemos y todos enseñaremos. ========== En el ángulo inferior derecho, en el video del avión, aparecen las palabras, que también se oyen, del controlador en la torre del aeropuerto, el capitán y el primer oficial. Las palabras ilustran lo difícil que es entendernos. No hay tiempo para grandes explicaciones. El avión se está cayendo. Los que están tratando de controlar el avión tienen una visión del mundo. El que está en la torre de control hace su trabajo a la perfección pero no imagina la situación real, ¿Quién podría imaginarla? Les habla de aeropuertos alternativos, Teterboro primero, que ya lo pasaron como muestra la flecha vertical, Newark cuando están a punto de tocar el agua. El video ofrece mucho para pensar sobre la importancia de expresarnos bien. Estos profesionales muy bien entrenados para explicar todo con precisión, usando pocas palabras, mantienen un diálogo que no ayuda mucho a resolver el problema. Nuestra limitación para resolver problemas, frecuentemente es la dificultad que tenemos para hacer entender a otros lo que deseamos expresar. Pienso en la importancia de las herramientas llamadas multimedia que ofrecen las computadoras. Etoys es, sin lugar a dudas, una de ellas, nos permite expresarnos no solo con palabras sino con dibujos, colores, movimiento, sonido y compartir fácilmente los resultados. ========== Las aves que se cruzaron con el avión eran gansos canadienses. Los educadores seguramente podrán explicar mejor que yo las costumbres migratorias de estas enormes aves. Las costumbres de estos gansos canadienses en la zona del aeropuerto desde donde salió el avión, cambiaron notablemente en los últimos años, agravando el problema. Los gansos siempre visitaban la zona, con mucha regularidad. Llegaban con el final del invierno. Nacía la nueva generación en la primavera. Crecían y se fortalecían con los alimentos abundantes del verano. Con los pequeños ya crecidos, volvían a emigrar al final del verano. Luego el cambio del clima se hizo muy notable. Muchos veranos se prolongaron hasta fechas tradicionales de frío. A los gansos parecía darles pereza emigrar, no hacía ya tanto frío. Los vecinos se encariñaban con estos visitantes, ya eran de la familia, se les daba de comer como a las mascotas domésticas. Con más comida, sin tener que volar grandes distancias cada seis meses y con el clima que frecuentemente parecía mejorar, se reproducían cada vez más y se quedaban más tiempo en la zona. El problema para los aviones se fue agravando. ========== Era muy divertido darles de comer a los gansos. No tienen miedo a los humanos. ¿Será que no nos conocen bien y suponen que somos muy buenos? Me llevan a recordar una canción de la obra muscial "South Pacific" cuyo tema es "Para odiar y temer te tienen que enseñar". Estos enlaces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHKzn8aHyXg http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/southpacific/youvegottobecarefullytaught.htm llevan a un video y a la letra de la canción: You've got to be taught To hate and fear, ... (Te tienen que enseñar a odiar y a temer....) El cantor pronuncia muy bien cada palabra mientras vemos sus expresiones faciales. Pienso podría servir para tocar el tema de la discriminación mientras se oye cantar en Inglés clarísimo y se disfruta de este clásico de Broadway. Hoy, las historias horribles de discriminación nos están llegando con frecuencia desde los mismos países que antes criticaban a otros por discriminar. Si se discutieran estos problemas de frente, con la información correcta, sin prejuicios, sin la urgencia tradicional de tomar partido a favor o en contra de todo lo que oímos, sería posible llegar a enseñar y que todos llegáramos a aprender, lo complejos que son algunos de estos problemas sociales. ========== Al darles de comer, los gansos frecuentemente cambiaban sus planes de viaje. ¿Para que volar lejos si aquí tenemos comida? Se hace gran esfuerzo por enseñar al público sobre el daño que causamos a los animales, ofreciéndoles comida fácil sabiendo que no podremos seguir ofreciéndosela eternamente. Esto trae muchas otras preguntas. ¿Hacemos bien en ofrecer traducciones de cuanto material encontramos? Lo que hacemos ¿no será equivalente a ofrecerle alimento fácil a los gansos? Sugata Mitra nos dejó pensando después de su reciente estadía en Uruguay, en su sistema de computadora en el agujero de la pared. El material estaba en Inglés. Los niños aprendieron Inglés como primer paso de su auto aprendizaje. ¿Qué habría sucedido si el Dr. Mitra hubiese podido conseguir billones de voluntarios para traducir internet antes de que esos niños comenzaran a navegar? ========== Videos como este del avión sirven para entrenar a muchísima gente en muchísimos trabajos. Si digo esto no faltará quien me diga que también así funcionan los aviones militares sin piloto que vuelan sobre Pakistán. Sí, es cierto pero ¿qué debemos hacer con información como este video y con enseñanzas como las que podrían derivarse de él? ¿Formar un comité entre los que nos consideremos los más sabios y decidir que información hacer llegar a los demás y que información esconder? English text starts here This video shows the simulation of a real flight and accident: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tE_5eiYn0D0#t=109 Shortly after take off, both engines shut down after swallowing some geese that crossed the plane's path. The pilots were able to touch down on a nearby river, without any casualties. The airplane, in not such bad shape, was picked up from the river. Not long ago, it was moved over roads, to a museum: http://holanoticias.com/charlotte/?p=14567 I imagine educators might like to use it as the introduction to many subjects, during their daily teaching jobs. I believe the video might show the relationship between what is taught in learning institutions and the jobs of adults in real life. "What am I going to use this for?" I suspect is a frequent question at all levels of learning in all countries since the beginning of teaching. The subject is very well explained in the "Squeakers" video I heard was going to be distributed during Squeakfest Uruguay 2011. If this didn't happen and there is interest, I do have an original CD in English with subtitles in several languages, which I understand may be legally reproduced. Seymour Papert explains this subject very well in his book "Mindstorms". For those who never saw either of the two things: Seymour Papert's video: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg7q79cx_307cftmhgwt Some of the subjects for which this video could be used as a primer to start discussions: ========== Birds near airports are a problem in many places in the world, including Uruguay. This video explains very well, how the problem is tackled at Carrasco National Airport, serving Montevideo´s metropolitan area: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sRIPVYkB3U How many of today's students know there are jobs like those of these people in the video? How many people imagined, there are people in Uruguay contributing through very natural and environment friendly means, to resolve the problems created by airplanes? ========== We all accept air travel because it helps us tremendously. This doesn't mean airplanes are not a tremendous encroachment in the environment and big consumers of non-renewable natural resources. Many of the critics we constantly hear, would change their attitude in front of many problems if they could hear both opinions, those in favor and those against each issue. Would it make sense to quit flying and go back to horses like the Amish do?: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish And if we did it, would anyone still criticize us? The four stages of cruelty http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_cuatro_etapas_de_crueldad ========== The world is not perfect. We have to criticize what we think is not right or could be better. We have to answer those who criticize us with our best answers. We have to take advantage of modern technology to share these dialogs. This way all of us will learn and all of us will teach. ========== In the plane´s video, on the lower right angle, they show boxes with the words that are also heard, of the traffic controller, the captain and the first officer. The voices illustrate how difficult it is for us to understand each other. There is no time for great explanations. The airplane is about to crash. Those trying to control it have a vision of the world. The controller at the tower is doing a perfect job but doesn´t imagine how bad the real situation is. Who could imagine it? He talks about alternate airports, Teterboro first, after they have already passed it as shown by the vertical arrow, Newark by the time they are about to touch the water. The video offers a lot to think about the importance of expressing ourselves well. These professionals, very well trained to offer precise explanations, using only a few words, maintain a dialogue that doesn´t help much towards solving the problem. Our limitation to solve problems frequently comes from our difficulty to make others understand what we want to say. I think about the importance of the so called multi-media tools, offered by computers. Etoys is certainly one of them. It allows us to express ourselves not only with words but also with drawings, colors, movement and sound and to share the results with others around the world. ========== The birds that crossed the plane´s path were canadian geese. Educators will certainly be able to explain better than me the migration patterns of this huge birds. The habits of these canadian geese near the airport from where the plane departed, changed noticeably over the past few years, making the problem worse. The geese always visited the area, quite regularly. They would arrive by the end of winter. The new generation would be born in Spring. They would grow and get strong with the abundant Summer food. With the little ones already grown up, they would emigrate again by Summer´s end. Then, the climate change became noticeable. Many summers continued until dates when cold weather used to be the tradition. The geese seemed to be too lazy to emigrate, it wasn´t so cold after all. The neighbors became fond of these visitors, they were already part of the families, they would be fed like pets. With more food, not having to fly long distances every six months and with weather apparently improving, they reproduced faster and faster and stayed longer in the area. The problem for the planes became worse. ========== Feeding the geese was fun. They are not afraid of humans. Could it be they don´t know us and assume we are nice? They lead me to remember a song from the musical "South Pacific" whose subject is "To hate and to fear you have to be taught'. These links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHKzn8aHyXg http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/southpacific/youvegottobecarefullytaught.htm lead to a video and to the lyrics for the song: "You've got to be taught To hate and fear, ... " The singer pronounces perfectly each word while we see his facial expression. I feel it could be used to touch the subject of discrimination while listening to the words in very clear English and enjoying this Broadway classic. The horrible stories of discrimination, are frequently reaching us today from the very same countries that used to criticize others for their discrimination practices. If these problems were faced, without detours, with the correct information, with no prejudices, without the traditional urgency for taking sides in favor or against all we hear, it would be possible to teach and for all of us to learn, how complex some of these social problems are. ========== When fed by humans, the geese would frequently change their travel plans. Why fly far away if we have food here? Great effort is spent in teaching the public about the damage we cause by feeding animals easy food, knowing we will not be able to provide that food forever. This brings many questions. Are we doing the right thing by offering translations of every material we find? What we do, wouldn't it be equivalent with offering easy food to the geese? Sugata Mitra left us thinking after his recent stay in Uruguay, about his computer in the hole in the wall. The material was in English. Children learned English as the first step of their self learning process. What would have happened if Dr. Mitra had been able to get billions of volunteers to translate internet before the children started to navigate? ========== Videos like this one of the plane are used to train lots of people to do many jobs. I'm sure someone will tell me this technology is also used to control military planes to fly over Pakistan without pilots on board. Yes, it is true but, what should we do with information such as this video and the learning that could result from watching it? Should we create a committee integrated with those that consider ourselves as the wisest and decide what information should reach others and what information should be hidden? Carlos Rabassa Voluntario Red de Apoyo al Plan Ceibal Montevideo, Uruguay

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Excelente video mostrando progreso de tsunami en Japón
by Carlos Rabassa 20 Jun '11

20 Jun '11

English text follows Spanish text Agradezco al Ing. Pedro Vilanova que me lo hizo llegar. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/dramatic-video-japan-tsunami-viral-video-20110417-… Espero llegue a muchos educadores. Gracias a los que mantienen estas listas que nos permiten compartir este valioso material. A aquellos que como yo, nacimos y nos educamos antes de la era digital, les propongo nos detengamos un momento a pensar en algunos de los muchos problemas que desafiaban a nuestros maestros. Y paremos a decirles gracias a ellos y a los maestros de hoy que cuentan con más herramientas pero tambien enfrentan desafíos más complejos. Tenían que enseñarnos sobre terremotos cuando para casi todos ellos la única fuente de conocimiento eran unos pocos libros llenos de texto con una o dos fotos en blanco y negro. Lo más cercano que algunos tenían a un video como este, eran las películas basadas en relatos históricos y la imaginación de los que las creaban. Los maestros nos hablaban de un terremoto en Ecuador durante mis días de escolar en Uruguay. Veíamos en el cine la película ahora clásica Stromboli: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromboli_%28pel%C3%ADcula%29 English text starts here Thanks to Ing. Pedro Vilanova who sent me this link. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/dramatic-video-japan-tsunami-viral-video-20110417-… I hope it will reach many educators. Thanks to those maintaining these lists that allow us to share this valuable material. To those like me born and educated before the digital era, may I suggest we stop for a moment to think about some of the many problems that challenged our teachers. And we stop to say thanks to them as well as to today´s teachers who have more tools available but who also face more complex challenges. They had to teach us about earthquakes when for almost all of them the only source of knowledge were a few books full of text with one or two black and white pictures. The closest thing some of them had to videos like this one were films based on history and the imagination of those creating them. Teachers used to talk to us about an earthquake in Ecuador during my school days in Uruguay. We used to see the now classic film Stromboli: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromboli_%28film%29 Carlos Rabassa Voluntario Red de Apoyo al Plan Ceibal Montevideo, Uruguay

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squeakland June 2011