squeakland September 2010

squeakland@lists.squeakfoundation.org

23 participants
55 discussions

Teaching in digital society vs industrial society
by Carlos Rabassa 21 Apr '11

21 Apr '11

I have just watched a most interesting video a friend pointed out to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlAnkExQabY The ideas presented in the video seem to be correct and most interesting. Even more, it seems to me the opportunity of having all those XOs already distributed, we might have the perfect opportunity to apply these ideas. Of course, I am just a volunteer. I would really like to listen to the opinion of teachers, educators and other experts. Mi impression is that, as Mr. Toffler says, the problem he describes in the U.S., is not an exclusive problem of this country. We will see it in other countries as they go from industrial to digital societies. Who is the speaker in this video_ ¿Quién es el orador en este video? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_Toffler Carlos Rabassa Volunteer Plan Ceibal Support Network Montevideo, Uruguay

9 13

Re: [squeakland] [etoys-dev] (SQ-749) and Kathleen's question on "What do you mean by Artifacts?"
by Steve Thomas 30 Oct '10

30 Oct '10

I have been reading Alan Kay's Thoughts About Teaching Science and Mathematics To Young Children<http://www.vpri.org/pdf/m2007003a_thoughts.pdf> : > I think one of the trickiest issues in this kind of design is an analogy to > the learning of science itself, and that is *"how much should the > learners/users have to do by themselves vs. how much should the > curriculum/system do for them?"* Most computer users have been mostly > exposed to "productivity tools" in which as many things as possible have > been done for them. The kinds of educational environments we are talking > about here are a*t their best when the learner does the important parts by > themselves, and any black or translucent boxes serve only on the side and > not at the center of the learning.* What is the center and *what is the > side will shift as the learning progresses, and this has to be accommodated. > * By exposing everything in Etoys as "First Principles" (which in this particular case I understand to mean, that we have a minimal set of scripting tiles and objects from which everything can be built) we avoid the "productivity tools" issue because everything is exposed. It is also a beautiful, elegant and exposes a powerful idea. The challenge in a system where everything is done from "First Principles" is that when you are designing an"educational environment" "lesson", or "Artifact" ( better terms might be "playthink" and/or "tool to think with"), it can take a lot of work to build those preferably translucent boxes. And to paraphrase another Alan Kay quote on user interface design: "If it takes one step I'll do it, If it takes two steps I might do it, if it takes three or more steps forget about it!" No, I am not arguing to make things easy for everyone, we need find ways to get kids to have "hard fun." Hard work and ragging a problem are good habits. I also strongly believe that giving kids a "blank canvas" and a great set of brushes and paints is an excellent and preffered method, but not the only one we should use. I am arguing (and struggling) with is how in a "First Principle" system like Etoys, we can find ways to make it easier for teachers/designers (ie: make them more productive). I fear I see in some folks (none on this email list of course) a tendency towards what I initially saw (and fell into myself) as the constructivism trap. Where I encountered people who thought kids should construct all knowledge themselves from Scratch (pun intended ;). As I recall Alan (and others pointing out) we can't expect kids to do that, they will repeat the same mistakes people did over thousands of years. My initial thoughts are a repository of Artifacts that teachers can use along with a set of scripts (the problem with the set of scripts idea is that the scripts in Etoys are not decoupled from the ?morphs? (not sure of the correct term here, but basically the pixels visually representing the object). Bert's idea that we have a Player Variable and the scripts that operate on it is a good one, but I think there may be some bugs there, need to test more. Now I will more directly address Kathleen's question: "What do you mean by "Artifacts". I will switch from "Artifacts" to the term "Playthinks" (which I encountered in the "The Big Book of Brain Games<http://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Brain-Games-Mathematics/dp/0761134662>" by Ivan Moscovich). One of the best and simplest "Playthinks" for teaching I ever encountered was Robert B. Davis' classroom warm-up (which I showed at Squeakfest and have wrote about here<http://mrstevesscience.blogspot.com/2009/12/taking-tic-tac-toe-to-next-leve…>.) Basically it involves drawing on the board a 4 x 4 grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Then having kids pick two numbers and using those two numbers as X and Y counting from 0 at the origin point in the lower left and then If they land on the board marking an X or O until one team wins. Some of the keys to this "Playthink" are: - you let kids puzzle it out for themselves, they figure out the rules, you don't tell them - it contains a powerful idea - it can be easily extended to other concepts (negative numbers, a number is all the ways you can name it, is this game fair ...) - *its fun * Other examples of "Playthinks" would be cuisenaire rods, pentagrams, area blocks, other good "virtual manipulatives" and my feeble attempts Circle Explorer <http://www.squeakland.org/showcase/project.jsp?id=10212> and Pattern Blocks and Tools <http://www.squeakland.org/showcase/project.jsp?id=10216>. *Bert*, your comments on SQ-749 sparked my writing this, I will address it more specifically in a separate email after some more thought. Including *Alan* so he can correct any misinterpretations and hopefully comment FYI: A lot of other excelent writings from VPRI are here<http://www.vpri.org/html/writings.php>, most are Computer Science related but a number deal with educational issues and Etoys. Stephen On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 5:02 AM, Bert Freudenberg <bert(a)freudenbergs.de>wrote: > > On 12.08.2010, at 10:32, Steve Thomas wrote: > > > On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 3:32 AM, Bert Freudenberg <bert(a)freudenbergs.de> > wrote: > >> This would likely be simple to implement, but could break existing > projects. E.g. the morphing stuff in the showcase. Maybe you could take a > look? > > > > Checked "Morphing" by Kazuhiro Abe and that should be fine. Each Polygon > in the holder has the same number of vertices and the script simple changes > the positions of the vertices one at a time. > > > > "The Walkers" and associated remixes by P.A. Dreyfus uses a special > category "morphing" which would be great to get into Etoys (although I would > suggest the addition of some way to show/manage the frames) to make the > invisible more visible and to make it easier to create these kind of > animations. Anyway, whether this would be a problem or not depends on how it > is implemented. If he stores complete information about the polygon in each > frame, I see no problems. If he only stores differences and > adds/removes/repositions each vertex that MAY cause a problem. > > > > Anyway if it is a simple change and you can make it, I think I can easily > test the change by opening the project, then file-in the changes and see if > anything breaks. Or you could also ask P.A. Dreyfus (master of polygon's and > connectors) what he thinks as he knows and can check the changes against his > implementation. > > > > Stephen > > Thinking about this more I do not like the proposal. It would makes the > system less predictable. > > Having the new vertex remain at the same position is the only sensible > choice. It matches the "copy" behavior of regular objects, which also appear > in the same position. It would not scale anyway - see this image where I > only inserted 4 vertices. The position quickly converges to the next vertex > position. > > > > > Also, I'd argue that "add a vertex at beginning" and "add a vertex at end" > tiles are not needed in the first place. To be useful they would, as you > noticed, have to be "set cursor to beginning and insert vertex" and "set > cursor to end and insert vertex", because otherwise one cannot assign their > position immediately. But that makes them perform two operations that are > available separately. There is no good reason to coalesce those steps into > one. > > In any case, inserting a vertex should not change the cursor. If you want a > cursor change to occur, insert a tile. > > So my counter-proposal is: remove the "add vertex at beginning" and "add > vertex at end" tiles. (to not break existing projects, the tiles would only > be hidden) > > - Bert - > > > > _______________________________________________ > etoys-dev mailing list > etoys-dev(a)squeakland.org > http://lists.squeakland.org/mailman/listinfo/etoys-dev > >

6 20

Etoys 4.1 Release Candidate 1
by Bert Freudenberg 18 Oct '10

18 Oct '10

Hi all, we are getting really close to this year's Etoys release. I'm copying more mailing lists than usual in hope to get some more testers :) Here is the first release candidate (scroll down to "release candidates"): http://squeakland.org/download/ There is a Mac installer already, and a To-Go version that works without installing on Mac, Linux, and Windows. A real Windows installer will follow, as well as a release for OLPC/Sugar. Draft release notes are at http://wiki.squeakland.org/display/sq/Etoys+4.1+Release+Notes If you find problems, please report them in our tracker, or by replying to this mail. http://tracker.squeakland.org/ We are in code freeze now, only severe bugs will be touched. Translations can still be updated before Sep 25 - help welcome: http://translate.sugarlabs.org/projects/etoys_new/ The final release is scheduled for Sep 29. For the list of changes, see below. Thank you! - Bert - Changes since the beta release: * pop-up arrows now enabled by default * new DrGeo examples project (see gallery) * new home project (green border more visible) * Demon Castle renamed to Etoys Castle and fixed * revised guides for English and Spanish * DrGeoII translations for es,fr,ja,de * updated German and Japanese translations * removed languages with too few translations (ar_SY, en_GB, km, pap, pl, zh_TW) * hide distracting/not-functional preference panel buttons * allow negative timer values * shared flaps are not destroyed anymore when switching projects * various smaller fixes On 29.08.2010, at 23:20, Bert Freudenberg wrote: > Hi folks, > > here is the first Etoys 4.1 beta release: > > http://etoys.squeak.org/download/Etoys-4.1-beta1-ToGo.zip > > Here are the changes since Alpha 2: > > * updated translations from Pootle > * added languages zh_CN, ca, sk, pap, pl, km, en_GB, ar_SY > * revised Italian, Portuguese, and German Guides > * no save on stop under Sugar, must use keep button (enable sugarAutoSave to override) > * easier to make flap (see supplies) > * GSoC addition: scriptable speech bubbles > * translatable of Text object must be enabled explicitly > * minor fixes > > - Bert - > > On 20.08.2010, at 00:33, Bert Freudenberg wrote: > >> Here is the second alpha version of the upcoming Etoys 4.1 release: >> >> http://etoys.squeak.org/download/Etoys-4.1-alpha2.zip >> >> I had to make a quick update to alpha 1 because some Sugar stuff was seriously broken. >> >> Changes since alpha1: >> >> * fix Sugar DBus service methods >> * fix NavBar not showing Sugar buttons >> * fix 'length' and 'width' being read-only >> * flip commands renamed to 'flip left right' and 'flip up down' >> * fix QuickGuides showing up twice (if name in index differed from file name), or not at all (if not in index) >> * update Monticello to Squeak trunk version, and enlarge windows >> * fix for SQ-683 (can't create script in Greek) >> * fix for SQ-690 (Latin2 font broken) >> * renamed one Italian guide (HaloL'Visualizzatore to HaloLVisualizzatore) >> >> - Bert - > >> On 16.08.2010, at 03:33, Bert Freudenberg wrote: >> >>> Here is the first alpha version of the upcoming Etoys 4.1 release: >>> >>> http://etoys.squeak.org/download/Etoys-4.1-alpha1.zip >>> >>> Please test and report problems. If this basically works (I did not try on Windows and Linux), we can announce it on Squeakland for wider testing. >>> >>> This is only the Etoys-To-Go version. Installers for Mac and Windows won't come before beta (unless someone volunteers to start working on them now). >>> >>> The biggest changes since Etoys 4 are >>> >>> * added DrGeo for exploring geometry >>> * Sketches support flipping >>> * geometry tiles for the world >>> * timer tile (world and other playfields) >>> * can store preferences >>> * QuickGuides translated to Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and (some) French >>> * translations broken up in smaller files >>> * system organized in packages, developed using Monticello >>> * whatever I forgot (need to start working on release notes, which should also have proper attributions) >>> >>> We have a few weeks now to the final release. There are still a few additions in the pipeline (Richo's bubbles, Jerome's smooth curves, my Sugar stuff) which can still make the cut if we think the risk is low. But mainly we need to iron out bugs. >>> >>> Thanks to everyone who helped making this! You guys rock :) >>> >>> - Bert -

4 8

problem with location of Etoys players
by Louis LaBrunda 02 Oct '10

02 Oct '10

Hi, I'm working on an Etoys project I call Pizza Pi. The idea is to calculate the value of Pi by randomly shooting blobs of tomato sauce at a pizza. The pizza is in a box. The radius if the pizza is one foot (or one anything) and just fits in the box. Given these simple dimensions, Pi can be calculated by the formula Pi = (blobsThatHitPizza * 4) / (blobsThatHitPizza + blobsThatMissPizza). The blobs that miss the pizza are confined to the box. I am doing this with blobs of sauce that shoot toward the pizza box and then jump to a random spot in the box. The problem is that when I try to calculate this random spot the position of the box or the blob is not what I expect. If I grab a blob and move it to the bottom of the playfield its y position is -85? I have origin-at-center turned off in the playfield options, so I would expect the bottom edge of the playfield to be zero not -85. I must be missing something, so can someone please clear this up for me. Thanks. Lou ----------------------------------------------------------- Louis LaBrunda SkypeMe callto://PhotonDemon mailto:Lou@LaBrunda.Info http://www.LaBrunda.Info

4 15

Recording sound on the newest version of eToys
by Christine Murakami 30 Sep '10

30 Sep '10

Hi. I just downloaded the newest version of Etoys and am having trouble recording high quality sounds. I pull the sound recorder out of the objects box, record my voice, and it sounds like I am in an echo chamber. I've tried a headset mic, as well as a built-in headset and speakers, and I've tried the same activity on another computer, with the same result. I'm working on a Windows 7 machine, but the other computer I tried (unsuccessfully), was an XP computer. I haven't tried it on a Mac or on an XO, so I don't know if this is a more prevalent problem. I would be most grateful for any suggestions or workarounds. Christine Christine Murakami Technology Integration Specialist [cid:image001.png@01CB6095.4A33E660] 56 S. Columbia Avenue Columbus, OH 43209 www.columbusschoolforgirls.org

2 2

[ANNOUNCE] Squeak Etoys 4.1
by Bert Freudenberg 30 Sep '10

30 Sep '10

Hi everyone, I am proud to announce the new Etoys 4.1, which you can now download from the Squeakland website: http://squeakland.org/download We provide installers for Windows and Macintosh machines. There is also a "to-go" version that you can put on a USB thumb drive to take with you. Linux packages should be available shortly by the distribution of your choice. You can find release notes at http://squeakland.org/download/releaseNotes.jsp This has been a world-wide volunteer effort. Kudos to all contributors! - Bert, for the whole team -

1 0

Radioplay
by tom.staubitz＠fhtw-berlin.de 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

Hi, I'll begin to work on my master's thesis in the next couple of days. The topic of this thesis will be the production of intercultural radioplays with children. It will be done in cooperation with the Berlin based children's radio Radijojo[1]. The current plan is to provide a story framework into which sound snippets, produced by children around the world, can be integrated. We are planning to target as many platforms as possible but our main goal is to enable the production of these plays on the OLPC XO. We will be producing a prototype and a user manual/tutorial how to reproduce similar plays. Radijojo offers to publish these radioplays on air and on their website. The second option would also allow visually enhanced radioplays. I'm currently researching which software would be suitable for our needs. I've been playing around with Etoys for a couple of hours and I've been really impressed by its features. My first question is if there is a possibility to extract/export audio recordings from within Etoys projects so that they can be edited and broadcasted. I've read in the documentation that it is at least possible to import audio files. My second question is if there is a possibility to export a Movie/Slideshow that can be embedded in a webpage and does not require an additional plugin? Currently interactive elements will not be required, so any kind of linear playable format such as .mov, etc. would be sufficient. Thanks a lot for your help, Tom [1]http://www.radijojo.com

1 0

delay
by Carlos Crosetti 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

Hi, is there a standard way to make an etoys object to delay some seconds to make the blink effect betwen calling hide and show? Carlos

2 1

Etoys developer chat today
by Bert Freudenberg 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Please join our weekly Etoys developer chat today, as every Monday at 12 noon Squeakland Time. Follow this link to see the time in your local time zone: http://tinyurl.com/368xxgn To participate, enter your name as nickname on http://chat.squeakland.org/ and press "Login". Then say hi :-) Alternatively, use an IRC client of your choice to join #etoys on irc.freenode.net Everyone is welcome! - Bert -

1 14

adding morphs to etoys
by carlos.crosetti＠mostar.com.ar 25 Sep '10

25 Sep '10

Hi, I am experimenting with etoys and have found that its foundation is the Morphic framework. Is tere a tutorial showing the guidelines for a Morph to become well suited, like to follow the protocols, show in panes, supplies or a new flap? I addedth DiceMorph from SqueakMap and is working right, but have seen sevearl warnings while loading it. By the way, if Etoys 4 is not with a Dice (unless I did not found it) would a bad idea to have the DiceMorph included in the release?

4 5

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

squeakland September 2010