[MWForum]Minds In Play

[Gary McCallister]

Based upon some survey that was done a couple of years ago, it seems to me =
that the majority of MW users are actually adults.  (I am defining user as =
someone who actually explores it for fun or use it for something.)  Of =
course, the collective number of students in the world who are assigned to =
work in MW may be greater.   I suppose you are most interested in how =
adult teachers use it, which might be different from the way children =
learn with it.  There is a starting subject.=20
    I personally teach mostly college age learners.  We explore relationshi=
ps between biology and computers, artificial life and intelligence, =
modeling, cellular automata, robotics, codes (genetic, morse, UPC etc.), =
and such.  But I dabble in teaching children MW proper.  I also use it as =
a tool for teaching constructivism and constructionism. =20
     I know Logo in general has been popular recently in a lot of the old =
Soviet Union as they looked for new teaching models after the central =
curriculum was done away with.  MW is less used as it cost money.  I look =
forward to your posts. =20

>>> yagerc7@msn.com 08/21/02 03:09AM >>>
Thanks for your responses. School starts tomorrow, so I'll be quite busy =
for a bit, but then I'd like to begin using this list to explore some =
specific aspect of MicroWorlds to which those interested could agree. Any =
suggestions? Within our individual settings, we have the potential for =
fielding information about how people use MicroWorlds. I will be going to =
Armenia at the end of September to help a group of teachers who want to =
"democratize" their classrooms. MicroWorlds fits within my definition of a =
democratic vehicle. Perhaps this is an opening for exploration. Thoughts?

Craig in Boulder