Request for Discussion:
Proposed group: comp.lang.logo
Status: Unmoderated
Followup: news.groups
Aims
The group would serve as a common ground for discussion of the LOGO
language and its variants [and execution platforms], questions about
language syntax, constructs, algorithms, and how do you get LOGO to
DWIM [Do What I Mean]. Exchange of LOGO programs would be
facilitated. Experiences, lessons learned and ``What worked for me''
stories that are posted on this common newsgroup would allow a broad
range of distribution as well as providing a knowledgeable group of
contributors for answering questions.
Rationale
There hasn't been enough traffic on any one of the likely groups
[misc.kids, comp.edu, comp.lang.misc, comp.cog-eng] to recognize the
need for a LOGO group. Yet, having a dedicated newsgroup would get
discussions and trading of packages and experiences on the air, thus
building the volume. Certainly the level of discussion on the
Internet about LOGO suffers because there is no recognized focal point
or home for it.
As I examine my capture files for the last 18 months, there is a
nearly constant set of exchanges across 7 or 8 groups of LOGO related
topics. There have been also platform related questions and short
discussions on the .ibm, .apple,, .mac, and .amiga groups. I am told
that the k12 hierarchy has a fair volume of electronic exchange. A
mailing list or electronic newsletter is available by sending mail to
····················@aisb.ed.ac.uk.
Having a common ground for exchange of theories, ideas, programs,
insights, questions, and even war stories should sustain a high enough
interest level to be worthwhile. With international connectivity,
children, other students, teachers, and practitioners could get a
global perspective on discussions of their activities, concerns,
developments, and experiments.
Since the initial round of discussions triggered by James Gow's note
on comp.ai, I have received about 25 replies showing support and
offering contributions to a LOGO newsgroup. Given the usual ratios
of lurkers to correspondents, it is time to discuss any remaining
issues in establishing a newsgroup for the LOGO community.
Focus
The proposed newsgroup is focused on the LOGO approach to education,
exploration, and programming in LOGO. This focus highlights these
facets:
* The LOGO Language itself, including how to get started,
programming questions, resources, and reference materials.
* LOGO applications and development information including: design
issues, utilities, experiences with LOGO use, new features or
capabilities [e.g. Lego-LOGO], and implementation issues for interpreter
developers. This area would also serve as a focal point for software
trading, reviews and requests for available packages.
* LOGO for educational, pedagogical, development or cognitive
discipline support.
* General discussion on the uses of the LOGO language for
education, prototyping, exploratory programming, microworld
development, tooling, AI-Education topics, classroom experiences and
research results.
Scope
In addition to topics and discussion areas already listed, other
types of questions that might arise include some of these examples:
* Why does my school system insist on teaching LOGO to only advanced
students when that was clearly not the goal of the language designers
and developers?
* How can I get my school system to use LOGO to replace the
Electronic Worksheets they are using now?
* Anyone want to get a group buy together for Lego LOGO and see if
Dacta will give us a group discount?
* When and where are the good LOGO conferences this year?
* Has anyone read the book ``LOGO's Good Gnus ''? Is it any good?
* Why are there so few microworlds outside the realm of
mathematics?
* How do I get started with LOGO for my children at home?
Naming
Roughly half the 25 respondents favored the name comp.lang.logo over
the other likely candidates. Several mentioned the charter should
clearly state the newsgroup is an umbrella for questions beyond the
language. In the spirit of comp.lang.{scheme|lisp|clos}, discussions
would also include use, applications, pedagogy, theories, and any
relevant cognitive sciences or development topics.
The out of the blue suggestion that I liked best however was either
comp.mindstorms or alt.mindstorms. The .alt is rejected because many
sites limit distribution.
Responses
Followup is set to news.groups. Questions may be addressed by E-Mail
to either James Gow or me. Inputs from the discussion will shape the
charter that will be posted with the CFV.
Acknowledgements
The following individuals have been generous in contributing their
thoughts, but bear no responsibility for defects in this note.
··@anarres.CS.Berkeley.EDU (Brian Harvey)
···@inf.fu-berlin.de (Debora Weber-Wulff)
····@novavax.nova.edu (James Gow)
graham
--
Graham O'Neil ·····@aio.jsc.nasa.gov ······@nasamail
Lockheed 2400 NASA RD 1 Houston, TX 77058 (713)333-7197
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