1. Programming Revisited - The Educational Value of Computer Programming Andrea diSessa (UC Berkeley) Boxer Eric Klopfer (MIT) Andrew Begel (UC Berkeley) StarLogo TNG Mitchel Resnick (MIT) John Maloney (MIT) Scratch

2. Whither Programming? Haven’t we been here before? Haven’t we been here before? –Logo – Born 1967, Reborn 1980, Died mid-80’s? –Logo Reincarnated - Extending the ideas to new domains LEGO/Logo LEGO/Logo StarLogo StarLogo Microworlds Microworlds Hyperstudio Hyperstudio LOGO?

3. Creating Magicians “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” - Clarke “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” - Clarke Why learn to do magic? Why learn to do magic? –Thinking about thinking –Learning to think –Learning by doing (constructivism/constructionism) –Learning problem solving/mathematics –Learner-centered learning –Speaking the “new Latin” –Technological fluency –Empowering kids –Producing not consuming

4. Riding the Technology Wave So why has programming left kid computer culture? So why has programming left kid computer culture? –Consumption - Internet, Games, Audio –Creation – Flash, Photoshop, iMovie –Programming - ??? What good is programming now? What good is programming now?

5. What Does Programming Add? Implementing interactivity Implementing interactivity Modeling behavior Modeling behavior Augmenting media creation to make it more interesting Augmenting media creation to make it more interesting Making compelling games Making compelling games Controlling and manipulating information/data Controlling and manipulating information/data Diving deeper into scientific phenomena Diving deeper into scientific phenomena Creating and experimenting with simulations as authentic scientific practice Creating and experimenting with simulations as authentic scientific practice

6. What’s Next? Andrea diSessa – Boxer Andrea diSessa – Boxer Eric Klopfer/Andrew Begel – StarLogo TNG Eric Klopfer/Andrew Begel – StarLogo TNG Mitchel Resnick/John Maloney – Scratch Mitchel Resnick/John Maloney – Scratch Chris Hancock (Turtl Studos) - Flogo Chris Hancock (Turtl Studos) - Flogo