Comments for LearningForward http://g4classes.com/learningforward Reflections on novel and revolutionary uses of technology in education. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:00:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 Comment on Scratch in the foreign language classroom by LearningForward » More Second Language Acquisition - Part 1 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=32#comment-12096 LearningForward » More Second Language Acquisition - Part 1 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:37:37 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=32#comment-12096 [...] Scratch in the foreign language classroom (April,  2008) In this post I proposed allowing students to build their own language worlds in Scratch.  Still a very good activity (I think). [...] […] Scratch in the foreign language classroom (April,  2008) In this post I proposed allowing students to build their own language worlds in Scratch.  Still a very good activity (I think). […]

]]> Comment on Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow still Relevant by kchesnut http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=121#comment-11980 kchesnut Mon, 02 Aug 2010 02:14:39 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=121#comment-11980 Darci, Thanks for the comment - and the explanation about CBL. To me, Nicodemus' article mainly stirred my memory of the whole ACOT project - and I wondered how relevant the very old research (at least in computer years) could be. Very relevant indeed, in my opinion. Sorry I didn't approve your post any earlier... somehow I missed it! Kent Darci,
Thanks for the comment - and the explanation about CBL. To me, Nicodemus’ article mainly stirred my memory of the whole ACOT project - and I wondered how relevant the very old research (at least in computer years) could be. Very relevant indeed, in my opinion.

Sorry I didn’t approve your post any earlier… somehow I missed it!
Kent

]]> Comment on Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow still Relevant by Darci http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=121#comment-11805 Darci Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:30:20 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=121#comment-11805 I completed an MS in Educational Media Design and Technology last year and did read the ACOT paper. I was surprised by the blog post of Mr. Nicodemus. I found no issue with Apple distinguishing between "project based learning" (PBL) and "challenge based learning."(CBL) I am a teacher with 16 years in the classroom. To me, CBL is an application of PBL. CBL projects cause demonstrable alterations in the communities where they happen. The PBL my students have done were not what apple's CBL projects were. That was one of the points that made me really rethink what I was doing. As apple IS a corporation, I don't fault them for removing links, they aren't academics and we do know how to use the way back machine... I wonder though, instead of speculating about Apple's benign or malevolent intent, why didn't Nicodemus just ASK APPLE DIRECTLY? The Nicodemus blog to me read as an eloquent but nonetheless tantrum type response by someone trying to create an issue where the was none to cast doubt on some great tools (and apple itself.) I completed an MS in Educational Media Design and Technology last year and did read the ACOT paper. I was surprised by the blog post of Mr. Nicodemus. I found no issue with Apple distinguishing between “project based learning” (PBL) and “challenge based learning.”(CBL) I am a teacher with 16 years in the classroom. To me, CBL is an application of PBL. CBL projects cause demonstrable alterations in the communities where they happen. The PBL my students have done were not what apple’s CBL projects were. That was one of the points that made me really rethink what I was doing.
As apple IS a corporation, I don’t fault them for removing links, they aren’t academics and we do know how to use the way back machine… I wonder though, instead of speculating about Apple’s benign or malevolent intent, why didn’t Nicodemus just ASK APPLE DIRECTLY?
The Nicodemus blog to me read as an eloquent but nonetheless tantrum type response by someone trying to create an issue where the was none to cast doubt on some great tools (and apple itself.)

]]> Comment on Scratch in the Classroom (Part 1 of 3) by Air Jordan http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=7#comment-10744 Air Jordan Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:02:44 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=7#comment-10744 Wonderful blog, I enjoy to make advice because it helps bloggers to remain more engaged and for the chance to certainly know from each other. Wonderful blog, I enjoy to make advice because it helps bloggers to remain more engaged and for the chance to certainly know from each other.

]]> Comment on Hypercard Lives! by LearningForward » Hypercard Lives! (2010 Update) http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=38#comment-9995 LearningForward » Hypercard Lives! (2010 Update) Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:44:23 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=38#comment-9995 [...] my 2008 post “Hypercard Lives!” (link here), I expressed my admiration for Hypercard.  In the post I discussed Runtime Revolution, a cross [...] […] my 2008 post “Hypercard Lives!” (link here), I expressed my admiration for Hypercard.  In the post I discussed Runtime Revolution, a cross […]

]]> Comment on Scratch Adventures in Linux by LearningForward » Scratch Adventures in Linux (2010 Update) http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=29#comment-9878 LearningForward » Scratch Adventures in Linux (2010 Update) Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:26:55 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=29#comment-9878 [...] Wow!  It’s been almost exactly a year 2 years since I posted on my adventures with Scratch on Linux (see post here).  [...] […] Wow!  It’s been almost exactly a year 2 years since I posted on my adventures with Scratch on Linux (see post here).  […]

]]> Comment on Scratch Balance Board - Part 1 by kchesnut http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=100#comment-9602 kchesnut Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:09:36 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=100#comment-9602 Mark, Thanks for the input! I think your idea would make the board much less sensitive to the weight of the user. The only downside would be the inability to activate opposing switches simultaneously. This would affect projects like a Wii step aerobics project where the program would need to detect that both feet are on the board (by seeing both the left and right switches activated). But the ability to use the board with a wide range of user weights is a very good feature... engineering is always about the tradeoffs. I'll do some more testing as is... and try your enhancement when user weight variation becomes an issue. Thanks again for the advice. Have a great day, Kent Mark,
Thanks for the input! I think your idea would make the board much less sensitive to the weight of the user.

The only downside would be the inability to activate opposing switches simultaneously. This would affect projects like a Wii step aerobics project where the program would need to detect that both feet are on the board (by seeing both the left and right switches activated). But the ability to use the board with a wide range of user weights is a very good feature… engineering is always about the tradeoffs.

I’ll do some more testing as is… and try your enhancement when user weight variation becomes an issue.

Thanks again for the advice. Have a great day,
Kent

]]> Comment on Scratch Balance Board - Part 1 by Mark Goff http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=100#comment-9599 Mark Goff Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:58:03 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=100#comment-9599 I would think if you had a adjustable height central pivot attached to the balance board, it would allow you to tune in the device so it would work consistently with a variety of body-weights. I'm thinking maybe a screw sunk part way into a piece of 2x4 glued to the center of the board. This would keep the board center from depressing, only allowing motion at the edges. The tennis balls would see no pressure unless the board is unbalanced, regardless of the weight of the person using it. I would think if you had a adjustable height central pivot attached to the balance board, it would allow you to tune in the device so it would work consistently with a variety of body-weights. I’m thinking maybe a screw sunk part way into a piece of 2×4 glued to the center of the board. This would keep the board center from depressing, only allowing motion at the edges. The tennis balls would see no pressure unless the board is unbalanced, regardless of the weight of the person using it.

]]> Comment on Scrath Input / Interface Devices by LearningForward » Scratch Balance Board - Part 2 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=99#comment-9562 LearningForward » Scratch Balance Board - Part 2 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:50:04 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=99#comment-9562 [...] use with the balance board.  Earlier posts that referenced the purpose of the balance board are here and [...] […] use with the balance board.  Earlier posts that referenced the purpose of the balance board are here and […]

]]> Comment on Scrath Input / Interface Devices by LearningForward » Scratch Balance Board - Part 1 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=99#comment-9488 LearningForward » Scratch Balance Board - Part 1 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:14:31 +0000 http://g4classes.com/learningforward/?p=99#comment-9488 [...] my last post, I discussed building input devices for Scratch (see here).  My goal was to create a peripheral that could help get more kids interested in Scratch, [...] […] my last post, I discussed building input devices for Scratch (see here).  My goal was to create a peripheral that could help get more kids interested in Scratch, […]

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