Re: MIA, Ask an Expert: to Jeff

["Jeff Knope" <jknope@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi Robyn,

First let me say, as probably the only non-teacher in this forum, I'm may be 
the least appropriate person to whom to address your inquiry.  My name pops 
up frequently only becuase I'm just this lonely old man in the wilderness, 
with nobody else to talk to.  I'm sure others on this forum will have useful 
and valuable things to offer.

Here is something from a blurb on my website that might be helpful:

"LOGO, a dialect of LISP, is a stunningly powerful -- and not very 
well-understood -- programming language.

"It has, by design, some wonderful features that make it easy for even very 
young children to begin writing programs. This has earned it a reputation of 
being just for children.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. LOGO has all the power of its 
parent language, LISP - the language of choice for the most advanced 
Artificial Intelligence programming.  It is specifically designed to have no 
floor and no ceiling. If your idea is programmable, you can likely do it in 
LOGO.

"Modern LOGO, especially the LCSI implementations MicroWorlds Pro and 
MicroWorlds EX (with its robotics extensions) is absolute nerd heaven. Its 
natural language syntax and vocabulary make it easy to learn. As an 
interpreted language, code executes immediately, without first running it 
through compilers and linkers.  With modern processors running literally 
thousands of times faster than just a few years ago, there is never a 
noticeable peformance penalty...

"If you're looking for a powerful but easy to learn programming language for 
personal programs, you can't do better than LOGO."

Please keep us posted as to your progress and success with selling this 
idea.  Wendy or Daniel will (please) give you URLs for finding student work 
at all grade levels, which might help demonstrate its suitability for 
younger students.

Good Luck,
--Jeff



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ask an Expert - Question" <askanexpert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mwforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 5:30 PM
Subject: MIA, Ask an Expert: to Jeff


> This is an automatic message sent from the web form at:
> http://mia.openworldlearning.org/mwforum.htm
>
> from: sa5185@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> date: Sun Jun 12 17:23:37 2005
>
> Dear Jeff,
>
> I  used MicroWorlds for five years as T-7 ICT and Year 7
> maths teacher.  I found it invaluable for projects,
> simulations, and for teaching all mathematical concepts.
> Apart from its use teaching geometric
> concepts I often got my class to program which helped
> instil  mathematical oncepts.  It was great for Cryptology
> (using modulo arithmetic).
>
> Anyway I am now trying to convince another school (I was
> two years in the UK and have now returned to Australia) to
> purchase MicroWorlds for the whole
> school.  There is is misconception that is will only suit
> the upper school.  I am at presently getting together some
> ammunition and will get the staff
> together and demonstrate MicroWorlds' vast capabilities.  I
> would be grateful for any succinct pieces of 'proof' anyone
> has, especially of planning to outcomes.  I have also been
> asked to write a little about Microworlds for our
> Curriculum Framework so could use some quotes for that also.
>
> Thanking all in anticipation
> Robyn Valentine.
>
> [This message was June 9 but bounced from an unsubscribed e-mail address.]
>
>
>
>
>
>
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