BLC05 : Some serious technology toys
Final keynote is Sowing hte Seeds for a more Creative Society by Mitchel Resnick. Started off by asking us to identify which of the three don’t belong: Television, Computers, Paintbrushes. Most people might say paintbrushes, but he’s saying that it should be televisions. People need to be using computers to express themselves more, to be creative and innovative in their use of them.
Some of the best learning experiences occur when education is about more than just information delivery.
In his mind, computers are not just about information, but they’re really about a new medium to let us express ourselves and communicate with one another.
His research book (group) is called Lifetime Kindergarten Group. He’s talking right now about the history of kindergarten, how it came about and how it was originally designed by Froebel. The new technology tools of today are able to take the ideas behind kindergarten learning and apply them to more advanced learning and concepts. The original materials and manipulatives in Kindergarten were called Froebel’s gifts. What would be 21st century Froebel’s gifts?
According to Alan, Mitchel was one of the people who created Lego Mindstorms, you know the legos with motors, processors, and the ability to program them via computer. We used to use those in school, the kids loved working with them. I’ve seen some really innovative projects. He showed a hilarous video of a few robots battling over ping pong balls, a predecessor to Mindstorms.
Side note: I am so tired today that I’m having trouble getting decent notes taken. It’s not that I’m not paying attention, but I’m getting wrapped up in what he’s saying and showing us, to a point that I keep forgetting to write things down! Oy vey. That’s what happens you when you stay up late drinking and talking about tigers, haggis, soccer, football and why North Carolina is attempting to recruit every good teacher at the conference.
This stuff really is interesting, but very visual. He’s got a slide up right now showing a six year old, the hat he created that spins a propeller when a person puts it on and the page he wrote to describe what it is and how it works. Six years old. That’s amazing.
Wow, he has a ‘birthday cake’ with some sensors in it and light up candles on it. When you blow on it, the lights go out and it plays happy birthday. He also has a cat that has a “cricket” inside (programable processor) that is connected to a light sensor. When you pet the cat, a shadow goes over the light sensor and the cat meows.
He’s really emphasizing how kids are much more creative and motivated when they are working on projects that really mean something to them. For example, a student created a device for measuring how fasat she roller bladed. Not how far, but how fast. It wasn’t too hard to figure out relative speed in RPM’s but she really wanted MPH for her own personal reasons and figured it all out.
It’s not just about the technology, it’s about being creative and trying to find ways to make a difference in the world.
Four guiding principals
1. Learning through designing
2. Following your intersts
3. Encouraging emergent community
4. Respect and trust
They’re going to be webcasting this session at some point. Quite simply, if you find any of this interesting you have to watch it. He’s showing a program called scratch that is a descendant of Logo and the Mindstorm programing language, but also has some photoshop elements to it. It’s called Scratch, and believe me when I say, it’s really wild. Doesn’t look like it’s publicly available yet, but I want it. Simple, intuitive, powerful, interactive, collaborative, and creative. Very very cool stuff.
Bringing all around, this sort of program is one more way turn a computer into a paintbrush.
Let me say this one more time. You have to see this webcast. I’ll post a link once I have it.
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I couldn’t agree more about kids being able to do exceptional things, and thereby learning a great deal being self-motivated. Education is an attempt for a one-size-fits-all approach to learning which alienates many kids. Unfortunately for them, our society is based largely on education success as measured by the educational system. Sure, there are exceptions, but it’s disheartening for kids when they don’t excel in the system, which really knocks down their confidence to try and do amazing things such as the examples you set out in your post.
I like your view that computers are really a means to communicate and express. I agree, and that makes them very powerfully creative tools.
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Peter Lawlor
5/8/2011
Regarding
“In his mind, computers are not just about information, but they’re really about a new medium to let us express ourselves and communicate with one another. ”
Definitely agree with this. On the negative note though, computers narrow humans’ real social interaction as it steals the time for person-to-person contact.
Mesa Miller
6/22/2011
Toys can stimulate thinking and Lego are the best examples of toys that increase the mental capacity of a child. That’s why my kids have lego as early as 3 years old but I make sure that they are doing it right since they are still kids.
Larry Poythress
6/27/2011
I was in a restaurant the other day and a family of five with children from two to eight were interacting with some game on the computer. What was so interesting to me was the baby of the group was just as interested and active in the game as the rest of the family. I think the trick is to introduce kids to different things when they are very young and then to let them run with the things that really turn them on.
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PJ Jones
8/10/2011
Yeah…definitely post that webcast link once you have it. It really is amazing how computers have revolutionized our society. I think we’re likely just touching the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential of computers in our society.
Matt Teal
8/16/2011
I agree with Larry.
I used Lego as a child on a daily basis, i believe it helped me to become the person i am today. It sounds strange, but i really believe this.
Computers are also great for expressing each of our personalities and being more social. Long live computers.
Nokia Themes
8/30/2011
Recently in our area, we found a toy store that specializes in creative toys. It has been refreshing to buy these for our kids. We were getting tired of what the department stores had to offer. Those Lego toys with motors sound cool, but they are probably expensive.
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Joy
10/14/2011
Toys for kids have become a common matter for parents to handle but the more advanced toys we get for the kids the brighter they become and and more enlightened to the evolving world,this is incredible
Latanya
1/7/2012