Re: Logo to teach algebra?

["Jeff Knope" <jknope@xxxxxxxx>]

On 21 June, Janus Jakaterina wrote:

> > Has anybody used Logo to teach middle school
> > patterning and algebra?

to which KO emxe responded:

> I haven't really made a curriculum for that, but I
> know I could.
>
> The only problem is that there hardly is any space for
> shapes in the shapes center....
>
> I can do some
> images, I just can't do too many. All I have is a
> Microworlds 2.0...

It's not immediately clear to me the relevance of shape space and animation 
for a "patterning and algebra" curriculum.  However, I've recently been 
putting considerable energy into animations in both MWPro and EX, and have 
some observations about these two versions with regard to shape space.

This Backpack thing, introduced in EX, expands - by at least a couple orders 
of magnitude - the shape capacity, compared to that of MWPro.

In MWPro, there is space for 128 shapes.  For most purposes, this a generous 
capacity.  However, in animations involving numerous characters, each with 
numerous shapes, you can max out this capacity pretty easily.

But in EX, each and every turtle has its own capacity for 128 shapes!  This 
in itself provides at least one order of magnitude increased capacity. 
Additionally, in EX turtles have become objects that can be imported all by 
themselves (as opposed to part of a merged page).  So, if some character 
needs more than 128 shapes (which is quite possible), one version of the 
character can be "cut" - and another imported (under program control). 
That's why I say there's at least two orders of magnitude increase.

   *    *    *    *

On a somewhat different but related track:  I note LCSI has announced the 
intention to drop MWPro from its product line.  I want to voice my most 
strenuous objection to this decision.

I have just noted one great improvement of MWEX compared to MWPro.  But 
there are numerous contrary examples.  MWPro is a much leaner and cleaner 
and much faster program.  There are many applications for which MWPro is 
clearly preferable.

In my opinion, LCSI is being terribly myopic in its exclusive focus on 
educational applications of its products.  I've explained in earlier 
polemics, MW has the unique capacity to become a kind of universal "pidgeon 
language" of computer users.  It could easily become the MS of personal 
control of computer behavior.  It is near-tragic, they don't seem to 
recognize what they have.

--Jeff

P.S.: I'm unfamiliar with MW2.0, so I'm unable to relate its shape capacity 
to the issue raised.  I realize site licenses are expensive, and it may not 
be possible for all to update their lab's versions.  But KO should recognize 
that MW2.0 is somewhere in the Early Pleistocene, in terms of MicroWorlds 
evolution.  With new versions at something like $100 a pop, he'd have spent 
(just for himself) about $1.40 a month to be completely up-to-date.