Randal, Jecel and all,

June is also possible, but, I was thinking how Smalltalk Conference and how  FISL atmosphere relate to the Squeakfest that I had in mind (similar to Chicago 2007)...

I have limited experience, but the way I see things, the currently biggest challenge for E-toys growth is not on its code, is not related to software, but to teachers and schools reps. It is related to communicating what for, and how to, use it inside schools.

In this context, making a metaphor with sports, let's say... with NBA - I see the developers/programmers as the wise and experienced coaches, and I see the  teachers as the players. They are those who score, who make it happen inside the classroom - I would like to see them becoming the stars, shining in this context!

The name Squeakfest made history already, and so we plan to keep it, but in fact, the idea is not about squeak-the programming language- the idea is gathering together to share experience and plans  about E-toys.

Talking about e-toys I am particularly motivated about 2009 - the landscape had never been so proper to make it growth. Taking growth as explained by

David Cavallo's in his paper - Models of growth — towards fundamental change in learning environments - ... as the terms replication and scaling are themselves problematic and misleading.  I see 2009 proper for growth because OLPC has already delivered XOs in schools in many countries; technology price had go down also in developing countries…    But schools  will need initiated teachers, teachers active in e-toys community, to make it happen.

 Maybe,  relating Squeakfest with a big  software conferences might scare teachers…

In the other hand, making Squeakfest  close to an IT for Education conference (WCCE) is probably going to increase attendance of teachers and people from education area.

Let me know your thoughts,

Marta

-----Mensagem original-----
De: Randal L. Schwartz [mailto:merlyn@stonehenge.com]
Enviada em: sábado, 22 de novembro de 2008 10:42
Para: Marta Voelcker
Cc: squeakland@squeakland.org; etoys@lists.laptop.org; 'Susana Seidel'; Edson Lindner; 'Daniela Hoffmann'; decio@pensamentodigital.org.br; Léa Fagundes - UFRGS (Léa Fagundes - UFRGS); 'bruno sperb'; 'Mônica Estrázulas'
Assunto: Re: [Squeakland] Squeakfest 2009

>>>>> "Marta" == Marta Voelcker <marta@pensamentodigital.org.br> writes:

Marta>  It is time to continue to plan and decide things about Squeakfest

Marta> 2009. My colleagues and I have been talking and we are enthusiastic to

Marta> hold a gathering in Porto Alegre on July 23rd to 25th ( Thursday to

Marta> Saturday).  Another International Conference about IT for Ed - WCCE

Marta> -world conference in computers for education is going to take place

Marta> near Porto Alegre in the following week - July 27th to 31st.  We

Marta> thought that some of the people coming for Squeakfest would get

Marta> interested in attending WCCE and vice versa.

Please also note the addition of an entire 3-day Smalltalk Mini-Conf within

FISL 10, a mere three weeks earlier within the same city!  How much

smalltalking can Porto Alegre handle? :)

--

Randal L. Schwartz - Stonehenge Consulting Services, Inc. - +1 503 777 0095

<merlyn@stonehenge.com> <URL:http://www.stonehenge.com/merlyn/>

Smalltalk/Perl/Unix consulting, Technical writing, Comedy, etc. etc.

See http://methodsandmessages.vox.com/ for Smalltalk and Seaside discussion