Re: Kids using images and scripting

Hello,

A quick bit of history and a reminder:

Etoys was developed with the idea that the children would create  
*their own* art -- to encourage drawing and not just cut/pasting other  
people's clip-art.  We'd love to see that encouraged  although we  
realize there are "powerful forces" working against us.  Children have  
little self-esteem regarding their drawing skills; they need  
encouragement, praise and practice.

Additionally, the original intent of Etoys was not to enable/encourage  
all kids to be "programmers" but to get children to think more  
scientifically, and less superstitiously, and in a more thoughtful  
manner all together when thinking about the world we inhabit and how  
it works.

Kim Rose

Viewpoints Research is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to  
improving "powerful ideas education" for the world's children and  
advancing the state of systems research and personal computing. Please  
visit us online at www.vpri.org





On Oct 31, 2011, at 10:06 AM, Steve Thomas wrote:

> Changed subject from previous emails.
> On Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 11:12 AM, Bert Freudenberg <[email protected] 
> > wrote:
> On 31.10.2011, at 03:09, Ricardo Moran wrote:
>
> > Some kids told me they would want more graphics to choose in Etoys  
> (like the ones in Scratch).
>
> Why don't they use images they found on the web, or took using a  
> camera?
>
> So I see a couple of issues:
> 	• Should we include a predefined set of images similar to Scratch?
> 	• Why don't kids use images found on web or took using a camera?
> 	• How can we get kids scripting (as opposed to just "playing with  
> images" and creating cartoons)
> On item 1: Should we include a predefined set of images similar to  
> Scratch?
> The argument I have heard against including images is that kids that:
> "Seeing graphics that they might not be able to create themselves  
> easily can discourage them from make their own paintings."
>
> If that is the case, then why do are there so many kid created  
> graphics in Scratch projects?  I have, on admittedly limited  
> evidence, seen kids getting stuck drawing, because they feel they  
> can't draw well enough, which slows/stops them.
>
> On item 2: Why don't kids use images found on web or took using a  
> camera?
> Good question, once I show kids that this can be done, they do it.   
> So perhaps it is an issue of "discoverability"?
> There is a quick guide on Objects/Digital Images which is XO  
> specific. But does not indicate how to import an image from the Web  
> on XO.
> Also, the switching to journal/copy to clipboard, ... may be too  
> many steps, which might discourage kids.
>
> On item 3: How can we get kids scripting, modeling, simulating  (as  
> opposed to just "playing with images" and creating cartoons)
> Great question, need to think about this some more.  Not that  
> playing with images, creating cartoons and using Etoys as a  
> PowerPoint replacement are bad things, but how do we get them  
> scripting, modeling, simulating as well.
>
> Stephen
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