squeakland June 2010

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14 participants
43 discussions

Re: [squeakland] Artifacts in ObjectCatalog
by kharness＠illinois.edu 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

Subbu, This sounds very much like what I do with my 2nd-5th grade students. This year, their first project started out painting an aquarium scene based on the one in our school and over several weeks, after the backgrounds were in good shape, we started painting something we would make move. I posted and tagged many of their projects as Aquarium and Seaside on EtoysIllinois. They are pretty to visit. We take our time with these early projects and the layers of complexity grow as children have ideas about what they want to have happen. So some projects use test statement to control an event like a coconut falling from a tree or a ship running aground. Other projects are fish with forward and bounce tiles. I do not grade projects but rather talk about the kinds of things they must include for example water, plants, rocks/sand, aquatic life, title. We check and recheck the spelling and at the end we talk about how to make sure it looks finished. We talk about making it easy for visitors to the projects. Eg are things where they should be when someone first looks at the project? ( When we make geometry puzzles sometimes they solve the puzzle rather than leave it as a puzzle for others to solve.) Switching their point of view from author to visitor takes thought. Does the title look good where it is, is it easy to see, good size and color and location? Does the project need a Scriptor or will it use an all scripts button? Does it need directions or helpful information? Usually we take a class period to move around from computer to computer to try other people's projects. Sometimes this causes changes based on new good ideas or problems they recognize in others but not in their ! ow! n until they see them. Lastly no trash can or trash left in the project unless it has a purpose. You mentioned font problems for Kannada. Would something like this letter slate project be useful? http://www.etoysillinois.org/library.php?sl=194 was done a few years ago but I still see children open those projects and write messages with the letters; good for titles, labels, or short poems. Children drew the letters of the alphabet each as a separate object and then put each on a maker button for an endless supply. We did the same with numbers. http://www.etoysillinois.org/library.php?sl=195&viewProject The number slates ended up with children using them to make math problems for others to solve then and there. We also used these slates for making patterns. Those got tricky because they would blend number patterns and color patterns. Regards, Kathleen ---- Original message ---- >Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 23:58:28 +0530 >From: "K. K. Subramaniam" <kksubbu.ml(a)gmail.com> >Subject: Re: [squeakland] Artifacts in ObjectCatalog >To: kharness(a)illinois.edu >Cc: squeakland(a)squeakland.org > >On Monday, May 31, 2010 11:42:49 pm kharness(a)illinois.edu wrote: >> Subbu, >> That sounds great that it is being used in so many schools. I wish I could >> say the same! What kinds of projects are students making? >They start with painting simple figures while practising their WIMP skills. >Simple figures are then composed leading to beautiful patterns exploring >symmetry and colors. We still don't have support for native language >(Kannada) so titles and labels are typeset using LaTeX. After about a year of >work, interest turns to animations involving revolving objects like moon and >earth, eclipses, spinning wheels etc. Others use linear movements like >football, driving car etc. > >Back home, where English is not a barrier, I have seen my daughter create >projects like a MS-paint like program, basketball games, pac-man type games, >animated greeting cards etc. An interesting innovation was the use of whistle >tones to control variables. I wished my mobile used whistles instead of voice >recognition for activation ;-). No worries about ambient noise or accents. > >I have not posted the projects because the aim of our intervention is different >from regular deployments. We introduced Etoys in schools to stimulate the >lower quintile performers to think and express freely and to aspire for higher >goals. Etoys is not used for teaching lessons and projects are not assessed. >Learning happens while "doing" and we use projects only as an evidence of such >efforts. Students become more inquisitive, expand their reading habits and open >up to a wider world. Once they get energised and become receptive to learning, >the task of engaging their attention towards meeting curricular demands >becomes easier for the teacher. > >Subbu

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Etoys developer chat log
by Bert Freudenberg 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

Hi all, we just had a chat, few people around today (it's a holiday in the US): * Ricardo prefers the September release schedule * talked mostly about camera and movies * need replacement for the spam-ridden forums. help welcome. Full log below, as usual. And see you next Monday, same time: http://tinyurl.com/368xxgn - Bert - <Richo2> hi <Richo2> :) <bertf> ugh, I'm late -*- bertf apoligizes <bertf> apologizes, even ;) <bertf> hi Richo2 <Richo2> hi bert <bertf> anyone else here? <rockyBoland> I am <Richo2> hi rockyBoland <rockyBoland> hi <bertf> small group :) <bertf> Richo2: translation stuff is starting to look good :) <bertf> do you have an opinion abou the release schedule? <Richo2> thanks <Richo2> yes <Richo2> I think I prefer the second option <Richo2> just yesterday I added Andreas code <Richo2> for font support <bertf> Yes, saw that. <Richo2> and even though his code works fine, I'm worried of introducing a lot of new bugs <Richo2> having more time to found them and fix them is good <bertf> yes. we first need to switch over to using that code and then give it some time for testing <jecel> Would it be interesting to have the translation stuff in the basic Squeak? It would be nice if the GUI elements such as menus and buttons could be in local languages <bertf> Korakurider is working on getting the subversion repo into shape <bertf> jecel: definitely <bertf> I also tried http://www.squeaksource.com/WebCamMorph.html <bertf> copied the CameraPlugin from Scratch, works <bertf> (on Mac) <bertf> should work elsewhere too <bertf> rockyBoland: do you have some specific issue, or do you just want to listen in? <rockyBoland> mostly just listening in. I am considering using etoys to build a game for teaching GCD and LCM algorithms. --> matmo (~chatzilla(a)doconnel.force9.co.uk) has joined #etoys <matmo> hi all <Richo2> hi <bertf> ah, matmo <bertf> was just saying I tried WebCamMorph on Mac, works <matmo> great :-) <bertf> was surprised it drags in the plugin class. we don't use MC dependencies normally <bertf> and we do not have VM classes in the Etoys image <bertf> no VMMaker either <bertf> there is a bug when you rotate it <matmo> dependency removed <bertf> and duplicating it gives odd issues too :) <matmo> I had not thought of rotation or duplication yet but will check it out <bertf> maybe for easier testing we should make a project with the code? <bertf> we have some testers that are not familiar with Smalltalk tools <matmo> what issues have you got with duplication? <bertf> when closing one it stopped the other IIRC <bertf> I don't think we need to support duplicating it <matmo> projects, yes, there should be a some in a few days time (if squeakland upload works) <bertf> I thought the problems are specific to thomas' account <bertf> or do you have problems uploading too? --> karlram (~51aa9a20(a)skylab.immuexa.com) has joined #etoys <matmo> IIRC I tried an upload last week and failed (will check again). Also had problems saving. Will submit reports when I've had a chance to recheck it's not something I have done or doing. <bertf> karlram: hi <karlram> hi <matmo> hi <karlram> hi <matmo> the "movie" morph doesn't look like it has had much looove :-) <bertf> matmo: when more people have seen it maybe we can come up with a sensible list of tiles for it. <bertf> for now it seems you just threw everythin in ;) <bertf> the movie morph is one of the abandoned demos <matmo> sure. I've actually paired it down but any/all suggestions welcome <bertf> not much love indeed <bertf> well there are some unusual concepts, like the holder reference for storing frames <bertf> (in webcammorph) <matmo> what would you call storage for snapshots? <matmo> album <matmo> album? <karlram> there is also a internal video format <bertf> matmo: if possible, that should not be built-in <bertf> but rather you would write a script that gets a frame and puts it in a holder <bertf> that would be the "Etoys way" <bertf> though the idea of using moviemorph to hold frames might be interesting <matmo> I was thinking "convenience" and in that particular example taking multiple snapshots as fast as capturing <karlram> it would be nice if we could get project publishing work with videos <bertf> well, Etoys isn't really about "convenience", but about learning how stuff works ;) <matmo> the "manual mode" gives the script writer full control <bertf> yes. I think for a first iteration, that is all there should be <bertf> becasue it is impossible to remove features later <matmo> agree, I completely open to suggestions re use in learning context. I'm not in education so happily defer to others opinion <bertf> once we know how people would like to use it we can add convenience features, as needed <matmo> ok, so remove auto-capture? <bertf> well, hide at least <bertf> there are some tiles that are hidden in "etoy-friendly" mode <bertf> but if you are okay with removing it, that would be a good option for now too <bertf> makes code review simpler <matmo> ok, I'll take a look <bertf> do you have an idea about how to deal with the old cameramorph? <bertf> karlram: publishing movies doesn't work? <-- karlram (~51aa9a20(a)skylab.immuexa.com) has quit (Quit: CGI:IRC (EOF)) <bertf> oh. we lost karl <matmo> re camermorph, would it siffice to remove it from Objects tool? <bertf> Richo2: did you have anything else to chat about? <matmo> suffice <bertf> matmo: that's one option <rockyBoland> This chat room is obviously about etoys development. Is there a chat room or mailing list for etoys users? <bertf> it could also be rewritten to use CameraPlugin <Richo2> bertf: no, thanks <bertf> rockyBoland: not really <matmo> rewriting, yep, I planned to look at doing that <bertf> rockyBoland: most etoys users apparentyl don't liek chat rooms :) <matmo> many things, little time ;-) <bertf> it would allow older projects to work, if those should exist <rockyBoland> What about for people who want to develop projects using etoys? <matmo> ok, I will bump it up the list <bertf> rockyBoland: those are what I call "etoys users" <jecel> rockyBoland: this is a weekly developers meeting. The rest of the time this channel is very quiet and can certainly be used for general user questions <bertf> rockyBoland: but the better option is to write an email to the squeakland list <rockyBoland> Will do that. Sorry for interrupting your meeting. <bertf> no need to apoligize :) -*- bertf can't spell that word <jecel> Besides the list, there were also some online forums, right? I don't know how those are doing these days <bertf> attracting spam <bertf> we're considering to shut them down <bertf> replacing with google groups or yahoo groups or something like that <jecel> Ok, then the list is certainly the best place for users <bertf> needs to have a list gateway and forum view and spam protection <matmo> trying an upload to squeakland in a mo <bertf> ok <bertf> I'll call this meeting closed - everyone is welcome to stay around and chat of course. <bertf> the channel is open 24/7 :)

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Re: [squeakland] Artifacts in ObjectCatalog
by kharness＠illinois.edu 01 Jun '10

01 Jun '10

Subbu, That sounds great that it is being used in so many schools. I wish I could say the same! What kinds of projects are students making? The Birmingham, Alabama schools bought 14,000 OLPCs but I have not heard much about what they are doing with them. Birmingham is about 500 miles south of here so it is too far to just go visit for a day or two. Maybe this coming year I will make a longer trip. There is a group from University of Alabama Birmingham working with the Scratch-ed team. It will be interesting to see what comes with one-to-one computing. My local district has computer labs in most building and additional pcs in each classroom but there is not a cs curriculum so what is done at one school may or may not be done at another but nothing in Illinois is on the scale of what is being done in Uruguay, Brazil and Peru.I hope Marta will share the experience they will be gaining soon in Rio Grande do Sul. They are using Intels. I think teachers might be more flexible and innovative if given a chance but the system level math curriculum is rigid and those standardized tests loom large. Regards, Kathleen ---- Original message ---- >Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 01:13:37 +0530 >From: "K. K. Subramaniam" <kksubbu.ml(a)gmail.com> >Subject: Re: [squeakland] Artifacts in ObjectCatalog >To: squeakland(a)squeakland.org >Cc: kharness(a)illinois.edu, "Hilaire Fernandes" <hilaire.fernandes(a)edu.ge.ch> > >On Saturday, May 29, 2010 09:15:54 pm kharness(a)illinois.edu wrote: >> The teachers are more concerned with following a rigid curriculum that >> pre-tests, introduces concepts, post-tests, bench-marks, and quarterly >> assesses. And all of that instruction/assessment is, of course, focused >> toward the standardized tests given in March. Their curriculum is too >> large, time is too short, and each concept and skill is given too little >> time to mature. But, that is a problem for the math establishment and one >> of the reasons I like Etoys is that it is so much more open ended and so >> much less prescriptive and so much outside of the whole assessment >> environment that is consuming education in the US today. >These beliefs are widely prevalent in my locality too but I have met a few >teachers who refuse to subscribe to these beliefs. They are quite clear that >most students can be taught to qualify in sixty days provided they are >motivated. So they spend the initial weeks in motivating them and then bring >in the curriculum. Board officials don't dare :-) take a performing teacher to >task. Questions arise only when students don't make the grade. > >In around 110 village public schools in my locality, Etoys is used as a >motivator but not integrated into the curriculum (yet!). There are no canned >projects illustrating lessons. Teachers reported that kids who used Etoys are >easier to teach than other kids. In one cluster, they even had their own mini- >conference on Etoys [1] where teachers watched student present their projects. >Appropriation has been slow but steady. > >[1] http://sikshana.blogspot.com/2009/12/students-conference-in-halasuru- >school.html > >Subbu

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squeakland June 2010