squeakland June 2011

squeakland@lists.squeakfoundation.org

13 participants
32 discussions

Etoys Video's for Khan Academy
by Steve Thomas 11 Jun '11

11 Jun '11

In the OLPC News article How Khan Academy Can Help OLPC<http://www.olpcnews.com/content/education/how_khan_academy_can_help_olpc.ht…> it was stated: ** *A. In terms of The Basics* *Khan Academy covers almost every basic academic subject in its videos. In addition, it has one hundred sets of math exercises. OLPC could either use the exercises from the website or rewrite the programs to make them work offline in Sugar. Problem Solved.* Okay, well how much disk space would that take? I like the idea of re-writing them. The videos as introduction to concept via demonstrations, visual models, playthinks and excercise that can (and should) be done w/o a computer. For exercises I am working on basic configuration/generation engines for creating exercises so teachers can easily generate their own exercises using a set of "playthinks" for particular concepts. For example: Cuisenaire Rods (some with vector arrows) is a great tool for learning. I built a number line where you can set the unit to a particular rod and provide a playfield so things snap to grid. Another example is my OOO tools where you have "operation blocks" that you can drag numbers or other objects that represent numbers into the operations and play games/excercies like "How many ways can you name 15. * * * I could use some help and collaborators as there is a lot to do to create an OER that is a textbook/workbook replacement. * *D. In terms of the Teacher/Developer Communication Dilemma* I was talking to Bert Freudenberg the other day about developing video tutorials for eToys, and he said there would need to be about 100 to give a complete tutorial of the program. Imagine if Khan Academy could help us pull those videos together. *With video tutorials, developers and teachers wouldn't have to communicate at all!* I'm sure this a big relief for both parties. Problem Solved. Name the 100 topics and I will start making the videos (I already have a number of "Etoys Minutes") *B. In terms of Motivation into Exploratory Learning* In an ideal world, kids would pick up the laptops and go to town on all the amazing programs available on the XO. But that just isn't how it works, because there is more immediate gratification to be found in simple games and Facebook. You and I know that exploring the world of science, art, math, and literature is much more satisfying than whatever instant satisfaction Facebook or (non-educational) online games can provide. But kids don't yet, so we need to get our hooks in first. Khan Academy does this through a system based on gaming, with badges and rewards, just like Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network. Problem Solved. Yes providing game mechanics (like bages and awards) and tracking is a nice touch and hooking into the Khan Academy system (or Sugar providing its own system) would be nice. Also I like the idea of "disconnected from the network" XO so there are less "distractions" (no I am not suggesting that kids can't access the internet, but as a parent and working with kids, having no TV/Computers/Electronics time has its advantages. Perhaps a "Internet is turned off until you do the following tasks option. For those who don't like this and think kids should have full access to everything all the time, think of it as a motivation for hacking and getting peer-to-peer networking working so they can find other distractions ;) *C. In terms of the Impending Evaluation and Testing* The people want proof. If governments or private schools are going to employ this system, they’re going to want evidence that the program works in some measurable way. We can talk all day about the evils of evaluation but the fact is that it exists and we need to deal with if we want this to work. Testing is already built into the Khan System, so teachers and students can track their own progress. The system is measured whenever it is employed in a new school, and the statistics show that it WORKS. Problem Solved. I agree wholeheartedly with the first comment "people want proof" and yes I know and agree with the "evils of testing," but we need to deal with the political realities if we want to have a larger impact. My question is how exactly do we use/hook into the "Testing" in Khan Academy? Should Sugar provide some method of tracking (as anathema as I imagine this may be to some)? How do you folks envision working together with Khan Academy? Would they be open to it? Stephen

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Call for Posters and Demonstrations: Visual Languages and Human Centric Computing
by Yoshiki Ohshima 11 Jun '11

11 Jun '11

Hello, There is a symposium called Visual Languages and Human Centric Computing (VL/HCC). They are looking for posters and demos, including graphical educational systemss such as Etoys. If anybody interested in showing such systems, please submit applications. -- Yoshiki

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Internet, ¿nos acerca o nos separa? / ¿does it bring us together or apart?
by Carlos Rabassa 10 Jun '11

10 Jun '11

Internet, ¿nos acerca o nos separa? https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Vk5HayWDfXEuOHR3BcOkoSUSMjIg_yDjtq… Internet, ¿does it bring us together or apart? https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1JkZRe272_ABGrz2bV0Gz4_kIWTwICf7Whk… Carlos Rabassa Voluntario Red de Apoyo al Plan Ceibal Montevideo, Uruguay

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What do adults use computers for at work?
by Carlos Rabassa 10 Jun '11

10 Jun '11

What do adults use computers for at work? https://docs.google.com/document/d/1undQpXaV2MzQicDtJBtym5coZgUaCSURUAP9oa7… Carlos Rabassa Volunteer Plan Ceibal Support Network Montevideo, Uruguay

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Re: [squeakland] [support-gang] volunteer translators needed
by Luis Galindo 09 Jun '11

09 Jun '11

I can help with the spanish translation, just tell me how. Greetings from Santa Cruz - Bolivia. Luis 2011/5/5 LASKE, Lionel (C2S) <LLASKE(a)c2s.fr> > > > Hi Timothy, > > > > Of course, OLPC France could help for French translation. > > Let me know what you need and how we could help. > > > > Best regards from France. > > > > Lionel. > > > > > > *De :* Timothy Falconer [mailto:teefal@waveplace.org] > *Envoyé :* jeudi 5 mai 2011 16:18 > *À :* Squeakland List; grassroots OLPC; olpc-open(a)lists.laptop.org; Maho > 2010; olpc-haiti(a)lists.laptop.org; olpc-social(a)googlegroups.com; Etoys-Dev > List; IAEP; Support Gangsters > *Objet :* [support-gang] volunteer translators needed > > > > Hi partners and friends, > > > > We're looking for a little help with our Waveplace courseware. We're hoping > to get it all translated into: > > > Haitian Creole > French > > Spanish > > Portuguese > > > > Our funds are limited, so I wanted to know if you have any volunteers who > could possibly help in this effort. > > > > Our courseware is located at > http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Courseware. So far, the lessons we > have finished are: > > > > General-->Basic Etoys <http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Basic+Etoys> (needs > outlines and projects translated) > > Language Arts-->Storytelling<http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Storytelling> (needs > outlines translated) > > Mathematics-->Geometry <http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Geometry> (needs > outlines and projects translated) > > Science--> Motion <http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Motion> (needs > projects translated) > > Health--> Clean water <http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Clean+Water> (unfinished > but can translate what projects are finished) > > Health--> Malaria <http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Malaria> (unfinished > but can outlines in the meantime) > > Technology-->Sugar <http://wiki.waveplace.org/display/wp/Sugar> (needs > outlines translated) > > > > As you can see, it's a bit of work. Many things are already translated into > Haitian Creole, but not everything. > > > > Please let me know if you can offer any help to us! > > > > Thanks so much! > > > > -- > > Timothy Falconer > > Waveplace Foundation > > http://waveplace.org > > + 1 610 797 3100 x33 > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > support-gang mailing list > support-gang(a)lists.laptop.org > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/support-gang > >

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education team meeting today 1 pm EDT, 10 am PDT
by Rita Freudenberg 09 Jun '11

09 Jun '11

Hi everyone, today we will have our next education team meeting. Let me know if you want to join us! We use Skype, so I need your Skype name. You can contact me in Skype under ritafreudenberg Greetings, Rita

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Fwd: [IAEP] Live, interactive discussion today: "Mathematician's Lament" at 3pm ET
by Rita Freudenberg 09 Jun '11

09 Jun '11

This will be a very interesting discussion today! Greetings, Rita Begin forwarded message: > From: Maria Droujkova <droujkova(a)gmail.com> > Date: June 9, 2011 12:52:23 PM GMT+02:00 > To: naturalmath(a)googlegroups.com, LivingMathForum <LivingMathForum(a)yahoogroups.com>, mathonthelevel(a)yahoogroups.com, wakehsconnections(a)yahoogroups.com, mathcirclesalon(a)yahoogroups.com, circleofcircles(a)yahoogroups.com, iaep <iaep(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> > Subject: [IAEP] Live, interactive discussion today: "Mathematician's Lament" at 3pm ET > > "Mathematician's Lament": The conversation continues > > > David Wees and Richard DeMerchant will facilitate an open, interactive discussion about the Lament, one of the central social objects in math ed conversations of the last decade. > > How to join > > Follow this link at the time of the event: http://tinyurl.com/talkmathbc > Thursday, June 9th 2011 we will meet in the LearnNowBC online room at noon Pacific, 3pm Eastern time. WorldClock for your time zone. > Click "OK" and "Accept" several times as your browser installs the software. When you see Elluminate Session Log-In, enter your name and click the "Login" button > If this is your first time, come a few minutes earlier to check out the technology. The room opens half an hour before the event. > > All events in the Math 2.0 weekly series: http://mathfuture.wikispaces.com/events > About the project > > Paul Lockhart wrote his "Lament" in 2002, and since then it's been a focal point for gathering and strengthening threads of meaning and significance in mathematics education. You can read the original "Lament" as a PDF document online, or its expanded version, edited by Keith Devlin, as a paper book. > > Event Hosts > > David Wees writes: My life since I graduated from teacher training in 2002 has been an never ending adventure. I have lived in 4 different countries since then and have met the love of my life and we started our family. I wouldn't trade a moment of it, despite some of the difficulties I have faced. At my website, I showcase projects I have been involved in. I also write articles about incorporating technology into teaching which is a major passion of mine. > > Richard DeMerchant writes: I have a passion for mathematics education that I have carried with me as I worked across the west and northern parts of Canada. Working as a teacher, vice principal and curriculum developer for three Ministries of Education I look forward to my next foray back to the classroom in the fall. I see social media as a tool for continuing my professional growth. You can check out the latest thoughts on my blog or follow me on Twitter (@rvdemerchant). > > > > _______________________________________________ > IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) > IAEP(a)lists.sugarlabs.org > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep

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[ANN] Waveplace starting another five laptop projects in Haiti
by Timothy Falconer 07 Jun '11

07 Jun '11

Hello everyone, Waveplace will be traveling back to Haiti in ten days to start enough five laptop projects, bringing our total there to 19 schools. I'll be blogging daily starting today, focusing this time on the people and emotions involved, so please tune in: http://waveplace.org/news/blog/ You can also follow my Twitter feed to get more regular updates: http://twitter.com/teefal Take care, Tim -- Timothy Falconer Waveplace Foundation http://waveplace.org + 1 610 797 3100 x33

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[ANN] Waveplace starting another five laptop projects in Haiti
by Timothy Falconer 07 Jun '11

07 Jun '11

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Conferencia del Dr. Sugata Mitra
by Carlos Rabassa 04 Jun '11

04 Jun '11

Adjuntamos las notas que tomamos durante conferencia reciente: Dr. Sugata Mitra in Montevideo, Uruguay https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1502eJK6y4UFVGKJSYRloWSTjKTvw9AcXx-… El Dr. Sugata Mitra en Montevideo, Uruguay https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1lG-YWeSN5xsi0oGUAl8EVrh0hb2ZgrND7U… Esperamos nuestro entusiasmo por compartir esta experiencia con otras personas les lleve a perdonar los errores en las mismas. Atentamente, Carlos Rabassa Voluntario Red de Apoyo al Plan Ceibal Montevideo, Uruguay

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squeakland June 2011