Introduction

["Jeff Knope" <jknope@xxxxxxxx>]

1) What is your background in learning or teaching MicroWorlds?

In 1985, killing time, waiting for a friend, I absently picked up the IBM LOGO
Quick Reference Card from my friend's desk. It just knocked my sox off.  

All layed out in neat catagories (Variables, Conditionals, Text Management,
Graphics, List Management, Communication (with the outside world), etc.) ...
it was immediately obvious - with this ... you can do whatever you want.
Absolutely anything.  It was a complete model of the human mind, a work of
stunning genius.

In the space of maybe 10 minutes, I came to understand these (then) new
things, personal computers, could be taught to do any task you can clearly
define.  And Logo had everything you could ever need.

I have been an abject addicto ever since.

I am neither a teacher nor a professional programmer.  I know no other
computer languages.  My other main interests are architecture (my profession),
sculpture, ethnobotany, evolution and underwater photography.

2) a. What do you like best about MicroWorlds?  b. What do you find difficult
or
frustrating?

a. see above.  

b. There is definitely a learning curve.  I am entirely self-taught, by an
odyssey of discovery I suspect is a model of Constructivist learning (as I
understand the concept).  

I know all too well, often it is difficult to dig-out the correct vocabulary
and syntax for some function (intention).  OpenWorldLearning's and Daniel's
"How Do I ... ?" is a great resource.  Providing quick answers to quick
questions is a major contribution of this site.  It does a lot to ease the
pain.

3) Do you have a MicroWorlds success story to share - a project or
lesson that worked out especially well?

most of you have already seen most of that stuff.

4) How do you hope this group can be helpful to you?

Many times I have had some frustration, and asked the forum to help me.  This
has been, and I expect will continue to be, a major help to me.

Beyond that, I hope my own contributions facilitate others' odyssey of
discovery.

--Jeff