On Fri, Mar 21, 2003 at 02:39:02PM -0800, Kim Rose wrote:
Hi, Jim -
If you have a background in computer science or engineering, etc. and want a kind of "text book" -- based on an earlier version of Squeak which would be downloaded from "squeak.org" you might try Mark Guzdial's book on Squeak published by Prentice Hall in 2000.
I've a mechanical engineering background, currently working as a Science Technician in a secondary school. As an amateur, I've dabbled with many computer languages, including a brush with Smalltalk some years ago using the Atari implementation of Gnu Smalltalk, which I learned enough of to be impressed. I like the graphical interface with Smalltalk that Squeak provides and believe that Squeak could be an ideal introduction to programing for young people - better even than Logo (which I've also tried). Once I feel I'm sufficiently up to speed with Squeak to demonstrate it, I'll try to gain some interest in the school where I work. ( I don't hold out much hope though, as the "What could _you_ - a mere technician - say to _me_ - a Teacher, that could possibly be of interest?" syndrome is rife in the trade!)
For my own interest, I'd like to try it for modelling secondary school science experiments.
Squeak: Object Oriented Design with Multimedia Applications see this amazon url: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130280283/qid=1048285977/sr=2-2/ref=... Mark used this book at a text and intro to Squeak for his first/second year C.S. students at Georgia Tech.
This looks good.
If you are looking for a book which is based in the "etoy" component of Squeak and geared toward a younger /less technical user group and discusses the use of Squeak in a learning enviornment, then, I regret to say, "not yet". There are a few groups/people working on such books, but none (as far as I know) have been published yet...If all goes well, there will be one such "project book for teachers/curriculum guide" available late spring or early summer, authored by 4th/5th grade teacher BJ Conn, and myself.
This looks ideal for the introduction to my School I'm considering. I look forward to it being published - perhaps you could let me know when it is.
Thanks for the helpful reply
Regards: Jim Ford