Dr. Yannis Kotsanis, Stathis Triantafillou (Greece)
Space - Book - Screen: Exploring Developmental Microworlds
Intellectual messages of the real world are better conceived while interacting
with Robotics. Reading stimulates imagination and promotes language skills
while computer based environments support learning and enable the manipulation
of information Space, Book and Screen as exploratory tools may contribute to a
child's development. The present paper tries to structure a developmental logo
curriculum utilizing these three interactive sources to promote programmable
thought. In particular, the user interface of `Roamer' (a self-driven floor
turtle) was modified in such a way as to enable interaction between robot and
children within the framework of a structured curriculum. A book “The
Explores of the Universe" was designed to encourage programmable thought
through cartooning and sticker pasting. Finally, “LogoExplorer", an
educational logo based type of software with its project oriented approach
(project cards) completed the developmental schema. This schema initiated
successive steps towards the integration of children into the world of new
technology and at the same time helped them to experience and to assimilate
programming thinking.
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