Re: [IAEP] Why is Scratch more popular than Etoys?

On Wednesday 21 Sep 2011 11:51:15 AM Hilaire Fernandes wrote:
> Le 19/09/2011 19:05, K. K. Subramaniam a écrit :
> > On Monday 19 Sep 2011 2:27:55 AM Jecel Assumpcao Jr. wrote:
> >> About programming for the masses, I see two educational reasons to
> >> insist on that.
> > 
> > The debates about programmin I encounter is usually around "how" and not
> > "why".
> 
> I am not really sure programming should be the focus point. In Scratch
> it is but,
> is not connecting ideas and concepts the focus point in Etoys, and
> programming a small mean to get there?
"Programming" is just a common way of referring to the process of giving shape 
to ideas on a computer. Such a process is very error-prone (due in no small 
part to the crude tools available) and requires a person to apply both 
inductive and deductive ("debugging") skills to perfect the creation. The 
creation becomes important in a business context but not in an educational 
context.

Programming in Etoys is like juggling. What is the end-product of juggling? 
Why are people fascinated by juggling?

A village school teacher related an incident of a 4th grader with poor writing 
skills who, after spending a few weeks typesetting letter shapes using 
LatexMorph, broke into a torrent of writing. I have also come across other 
cases where Etoys (once past the initial chasm) triggered a big jump in 
learning levels. To me, this is the most fascinating aspect of Etoys.

Regards .. Subbu