Path: news.media.mit.edu!grapevine.lcs.mit.edu!olivea!decwrl!nic.hookup.net!news.kei.com!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!msuinfo!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!munnari.oz.au!yoyo.aarnet.edu.au!ntx.City.UniSA.edu.au!magill.magill.unisa.edu.au!kerrb From: kerrb@magill.unisa.edu.au Newsgroups: comp.lang.logo Subject: Re: help selecting LOGO materials Message-ID: <1994Jan18.153630.100@magill.unisa.edu.au> Date: 18 Jan 94 15:36:30 +1030 References: Distribution: world Organization: University of South Australia - Magill Lines: 105 In article , mbrooks@bach.udel.edu (Morris Brooks) writes: > > I have recently received an assignment to develop some technology-related > learning activities for elementary school teachers who are working on a > Masters of Instruction degree. One of these activities will be to > investigate using LOGO for math instruction. > > I did work with LOGO quite a few years ago, but I am not up-to-date on the > latest materials, so I would appreciate suggestions from experienced users > on the following: > > background readings on the LOGO philosophy of using programming > to enhance learning (other than Mindstorms) Have you seen Papert's latest book: 'The Childrens Machine' BasicBooks 1993. > > interesting case histories of applications, particularly to elementary > math instruction, and summaries of research findings Idit Harel. Software Design for Learning: Childrens Construction of meaning for fractions and logo programming. This study was done with year 4 students and is both highly practical and also breaks new theoretical ground (by combining Papert's theories with Perkins and Vygotsky). This is available (for only $20) from MIT. Epistemology and Learning MIT Media Lab E15-309 20 Ames Street Cambridge, MA 02139 Also: Yasmin Kafai. Minds in Play: Computer Game Designs as a Context for Children's Learning. Same source. Another way of obtaining these would be to send email to wanda gleason wandag@media.mit.edu A good starting point to maths puzzles and problem solving is Barry Newell's little book called; Turtle confusion: Logo puzzles and riddles Curriculum Development Centre PO Box 34 Woden ACT 2606 Australia This one is a little gem with 40 puzzles at different levels, suitable from the beginner to advanced problem solver and logo user. I have used it extesnsively in 3-7 classes. > > self-study instructional materials on the LOGO languages itself > suitable for teachers at this level. It would be nice if these > are consistent with the free versions of LOGO that are available > from MIT and Berkeley. Or, are there commercial versions that are > so much better that we should invest in them? > I would recommend LogoWriter (or MicroWorlds - available only on the Mac, DOS release promised this year) for schoolteachers ... some of the features of LogoWriter make it accessible to another strata of students I believe. Also excellent teacher resources are available from LCSI -- booklets and cards specifically designed for primary, middle school and secondary. > sample lessons plans for using LOGO in elementary math. (I have > some of these in the NCTM Standards publications.) > > There seems to be a lot of material available, but much of it is pretty old, > and the research-oriented papers seem at too high a level for the students > in this program. > > I will appreciate any assistance you can offer me. > Also get these catalogues ... Logo Foundation 250 WEst 57th Street New York NY 10107-2603 International Society for Technology in Education Internet: ISTE@oregon.uoregon.edu The Dan and Molly Watt book(lets) are excellent > > > -- > Morris W. Brooks > Instructional Technology Center > University of Delaware > Bill Kerr Paralowie R12 School South Australia