Related to what freshbrain.org is all about, here are some resources for those of you interested in using computers as tools to enhance learning for kids, while staying on free and/or open source software tools:
- make a web page for a landing place for students' projects
- Seamonkey is a Mozilla project including HTMl editor, browser, etc.
- runs on mac / windows / etc.
- free software (yay!)
Alice v2
What is Alice and what is it good for?| What is Alice? (wordy) | What is Alice? (abbreviated) | | Although computer programming has existed in its modern form for half a century, it still eludes all but a small fraction of society. While programming is an inherently difficult activity, there are currently many barriers, both mechanical and sociological, that prevent large portions of the population from learning to program a computer. | Learning to program a computer is hard. | | Alice address both the mechanical and sociological barriers that currently prevent many students from successfully learning to program a computer. Alice addresses the mechanical barriers to programming by making it much easier for students to create programs. Rather than having to correctly type commands according to obscure rules of syntax, students drag-and-drop words in a direct manipulation interface. This user interface ensures that programs are always well-formed. In addition, Alice reifies object-based programming by providing animated, on-screen 3D virtual objects. | Alice makes learning to program easier. And it's fun. | | Sociological barriers are far more complex. Alice addresses the specific needs of the subpopulation of middle school girls. By supporting storytelling, an intrinsically motivating activity for middle school girls, Alice will make programming a means to an exciting end. | Alice makes programming more accessible to girls as well as boys. |
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- alice.org - Alice v2.0 is the next major version of the Alice 3D Authoring system, from the Stage3 Research Group at Carnegie Mellon University. It has been completely rewritten from scratch over the past few years. The focus of the Alice project is to provide the best possible first exposure to programming for students ranging from middle schoolers to college students.
- runs on mac / windows / etc.
- free software (thanks Carnegie Mellon University! )
- some support for export as applet
- no support for creating more 3d models without external tool excluding limited he-builder / she-builder
Alice v3 is "Storytelling Alice"
Greenfoot
- What is Greenfoot Greenfoot is an extension to BlueJ focused on video game and/or simulation environment. Consider greenfoot as a combination between a framework for creating two-dimensional grid assignments in Java and an integrated development environment (class browser, editor, compiler, execution, etc.) suitable for novice programmers. While greenfoot supports the full Java language, it is especially useful for programming exercises that has a visual element. In greenfoot object visualisation and object interaction are the key elements. If you know BlueJ and a microworld framework (like Karel the Robot or the AP Marine Biology Case Study) consider greenfoot as the best from both: object interaction (BlueJ) and object visualization (microworlds).
- good support for export as applet in Greenfoot v1.2 and forward,use it to have students place their projects on their web pages
- see also the listings for Greenfoot @ ACM SIG Computer Science Education 2007 Conference specifically Wednesday Workshops search down to "Programming With Greenfoot (Or: Introducing Java Via Games And Simulations)"
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>University of Kent Center of Excellence in Object-Oriented Teaching and Training
- Teaching Programming in Schools with Java
- Problems in the initial teaching of programming using Java: the case for replacing J2SE with J2ME
- mygame.java.sun.com/MyGame/ (try a few of the "Highest Rated" examples, these were developed by contest participants during JavaOne)
- students tend to get a kick out of being able to easily create and modify a video game, associate their own graphics and sounds (make sure they have a working mic and audio capture program so they can record the noises themselves) and post it to a web page that anyone with a java enabled browser can play
- If you look at Greenfoot -> BlueJ -> NetBeans BlueJ edition -> NetBeans as a path from beginner environment to what professionals use, it's a very appealing progression staring with something that will do any valid java code from the start. The only thing I'd change is to provide some sort of Alice-like drag-and-drop-coding environment for the younger students so they're not stumbling on a semicolon in the wrong place keeping them from compiling. But, it's all free and that's a very small gripe toward a very valuable set of tools for teaching.
- the Greenfoot talk I went through at the last SIG ACM Computer Science Education conference is documented at http://www.greenfoot.org/workshop/greenfoot-workshop-slides.pdf
and materials available here http://www.greenfoot.org/workshop/ - runs on mac / windows / etc.
- free software (yay!)
Squeak
- squeak.org - Squeak is a modern, open source full-featured implementation of the powerful Smalltalk programming language and environment. Squeak is highly-portable - even its virtual machine is written entirely in Smalltalk making it easy to debug, analyze, and change. Squeak is the vehicle for a wide range of projects from multimedia applications, educational platforms to commercial web application development.
- squeakland.org - Squeakland has been developed to offer a variety of fun experiences to people of all ages who use their computers to create. Squeakland is meant to be a playground for developing a community of people who want to work together to invent new media types.
- a wonderful book by B.J. Allen-Conn and Kim Rose, "Powerful Ideas in the Classroom - Using Squeak to Enhance Math and Science Learning"
- the "Weekly Squeak" @ http://weeklysqueak.wordpress.com/ is a useful summary of what's going on in the Squeak world every week or so
- Squeak is Smalltalk underneath the e-toys script tiles but, as Alan Kay and Seymour Papert would say, there are some very simple powerful ideas in there for education
- Squeak e-toys are being used for the XO OLPC machine and SUGAR interface
- there's a squeak plug-in that allows projects to be put on web pages
- runs on mac / windows / etc.
- free software (yay!)
ACM SIG Computer Science Education
- ACM SIG CSE 2008 conference is in Portland, Oregon from
March 12th - March 15
One Laptop Per Child Activity
- There was a lot of focus on the OLPC at the SqueakFest 2007 conference
- Given Sun's involvement in Curriki / Curriculum Wiki / Global Education & Learning Community, "bridging the digital divide," and so on, I found this interesting... I noticed the One Laptop Per Child (laptop.org) listed this under the "children" section:
- EXPLORING
- The XO gives learners opportunities they have not had before
- Tools such as a Web browser, rich media player, and e-book reader bring into reach domains of knowledge that are otherwise difficult-or impossible-for children to access.
- separate but related topic, see also: click through Sophie-Croquet and the -> Trailer -> Warp -> Trailer HD links
- although this is just a cute movie illustrating what might eventually be, a project like Sophie based on Squeak for interactive books (imagine Curriki available in this form, all students have it available off of their laptops) and croquet for 3D past the target of Alice where you can go collaborative
- EXPRESSING
- The XO helps children build upon their active interest in the world around them to engage with powerful ideas. Tools for writing, composing, simulating, expressing, constructing, designing, modeling, imagining, creating, critiquing, debugging, and collaborating enable children to become positive, contributing members of their communities.
- LEARNING
- The XO takes learners beyond instruction. They are actively engaged in a process of learning through doing. ("Constructivism") Children also learn by teaching, actively assisting other learners.
- RESOURCES
- The XO not only delivers the world to children, but also brings the best practices of children and their teachers to the world. Each school represents a learning hub; a node in a globally shared resource for learning.
