[Yr7-10it] Scratch, Gamemaker, VB.net, Python, PHP and MySQL - Programming for all levels

[Bill Kerr]

Scratch is written in Smalltalk (not a java app)

Squeak is a more modern Smalltalk - it came out circa 1996 - ie. to program
in Squeak is the same as programming in Smalltalk

Etoys is a visual drag and drop dynamic programming interface which is built
on top of Squeak / Smalltalk

Morphic is a superior GUI, a subset of classes within the the Squeak /
Smalltalk programming language
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/09/morphic-etoys-is-superior-graphical.html

More information about squeak at http://www.squeak.org/

Notable uses include OLPC, Etoys, Seaside (web design), Croquet
(collaborative 3D multiuser), Sophie (multimedia presentation), Scratch
(programmable toolkit) and Dabble (on line data base)

cheers,
- Bill
-- 
Bill Kerr
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/


On 10/3/07, Costello, Rob R <Costello.Rob.R at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Thanks for making the effort to read a 300+ page dissertation Rob :-)
>
> Turned out to be good timing - start of the hols, had to travel so lots
> of travelling & reading time
>
> I'm doing further study - and taken a somewhat parallel path - so all
> comes together
>
> once I got into it also very compelling reading -
>
> what are the powerful ideas that computer literacy opens for us?
>
> I like his notion that powerful ideas are the ones with the most
> connection, the most networked into various areas
>
> systems thinking and simulation as the powerful ideas - good case for
> that here
>
> Maxwell says it better
> " The kinds of powerful ideas emergent in the digital age - simulations,
> systems dynamics, multimedia, collaborative works, and so on-mean one
> must become conversant with the genres and methods of elaborating such
> constructs, and to be able to create and manipulate them oneself (see
> Lemke 2001). Are these not the special province of
> education? Is not the ideal of public education, mass education, that
> these ideas be accessible to all, and that the very structure and health
> of democratic society depends upon their reasonably widespread fluency
> (Dewey 1916; Kellner 2006)? And furthermore, as my emphasis on the
> ability of the literate to themselves construct and actively participate
> in each of these forms hopefully suggests, is it not the responsibility
> of education to nurture not the givenness of these ideas, but our own
> role in their ongoing construction and definition Is this not what
> democractic citizenship-as framed by Dewey-is all about? "
>
> I'd never heard of Squeak until a few weeks ago
> (although I've seen Scratch - which I take it is a java app somehow
> built on squeak - at least on the web version)
>
> I do know of SmallTalk - but I had no idea it was conceived to give
> children an authentic entry into the world of computing - part of the
> Dynabook vision
>
> given that squeak / e-toys is built on smalltalk - I have that right? -
> and its going onto the "hundred dollar laptop"  / one laptop per child
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XO-1_(laptop)
>
> then maybe it will all change
>
> reminds me the world doesn't have to look like web pages and office apps
> - the "given-ness" is much more up for grabs than it seems - just needs
> people fluent in both IT and education in the right places
>
> cheers
>
> rob
> ------------------------------------------------
> >For those with less time but are still interested then I'd recommend
> starting with Ch 4 (38pp) which provides a high level overview of alan
> kay's
> educational vision
> http://thinkubator.ccsp.sfu.ca/Dynabook/dissertation
>
> Reading up on some of the history of computing / educational computing
> has
> altered my views of what we could / should be trying to achieve
> substantially
>
> I've read a lot of Papert's material years ago but the alan kay material
> adds a whole new dimension to it IMO. Why? One possibility is that with
> commercialization of computers the original educational potential became
> terribly distorted - certainly Maxwell explores this theme
> comprehensively.
>
> Although alan kay was strongly influenced by Papert - Kay was involved
> at a
> more fundamental level - ie. directly involved in the invention of the
> PC
> and the first OOPs language, Smalltalk
>
> Etoys / squeak is a modern software synthesis of some of the best
> educational computing ideas from the past 30 years - although not a
> final
> end product.
>
> I've compiled some rough notes, brief history and an annotated reference
> list of some of alan kay's best articles and  video presentations here:
> http://learningevolves.wikispaces.com/alanKay+talk
>
> cheers,
> - Bill
> --
> Bill Kerr
> http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
> On 10/3/07, Costello, Rob R <Costello.Rob.R at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks Bill
> >
> > Read Maxwells phd thesis
> > (http://thinkubator.ccsp.sfu.ca/Dynabook/dissertation)
> > on Alan Kay and his vision of computing - the vision of the dynabook
> >
> > Pretty amazing document, documentation of little known history - at
> > least to me -
> >
> > even though his vision of real computing as childs play hasn't been
> > fulfilled, he has still had a huge influence on current software
> > principles etc
> >
> > Catalysing a deep change of thinking on technology directions
> >
> > Be nice if the ultranet people read something like this
> >
> > Thanks
> > Rob
> >
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