[MWForum]Variables, sliders, etc.

[cy]

Walter and Wendy,

Hello from Colorado! I'm a 4th/5th grade teacher in Boulder. Thanks for the
ideas you have been sharing with us on this list.

One of the things I have always appreciated about logo is the way it allows
multiple approaches to solving problems, and that the approach chosen by
each person fits their perspective.... also... that growth in many
directions is possible by exploring a variety of options. The ideas you both
have introduced about variables have been helpful. Thank you.

Craig

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wendy Petti" <wpetti@mathcats.com>
To: <mwforum@lists.mathcats.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 1:25 AM
Subject: RE: [MWForum]Re:snowflake


> Walter, I beg to differ.  There are several ways to input starting values
> of variables, and you and I have each selected a legitimate, different
> method.  I chose to use sliders to supply the starting values.  You chose
> to write a command followed by two numbers.  A third method would be to
> enter the starting values into textboxes.  If the names of the textboxes
> are LENGTH and LEVEL then the numbers written in the textboxes become the
> values of these variables.
>
> Of the three methods, I prefer sliders because there is then no way for
the
> user of the project to cause an error message, and there is no need for
> typing in the command center.  For online projects, users can only
> manipulate variables through sliders or textboxes.  They might not
> understand what are suitable entries for a textbox.  But there is no way
to
> mess up the sliders.  I figure we might as well put the MicroWorlds
objects
> to good use!
>
> It is true that the question marks in my code were unnecessary, but I
> thought it might be confusing to use LENGTH for the name of a slider and
> also for the name of a variable.  I was trying to make the point that in
> the command:  SIDE LENGTH LEVEL, the value of the LENGTH slider becomes
the
> starting value for the LENGTH (or LENGTH?) variable, and the value of the
> LEVEL slider becomes the starting value for the LEVEL (or LEVEL?)
variable.
> We could also use different variable names altogether so they bear no
> resemblance to the sliders.  For instance, the slider names could be
> STARTSIZE and STARTLEVEL (except I think only 8 characters of a slider
name
> are shown on the slider).
>
> Wendy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mwforum-admin@lists.mathcats.com
> [mailto:mwforum-admin@lists.mathcats.com]On Behalf Of Walter Smith
> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 3:05 AM
> To: mwforum@lists.mathcats.com
> Subject: RE: [MWForum]Re:snowflake
>
>
> You are having problems with "variables" . length needs to be :length if
it
> is a variable . note the colon as the first letter of the word . that
means
> that it is really some number that can be changed . I removed the "?"
there
> is no questions as to what they are, they are stated when you run the
> program such as "side 100 5" . the 100 is :length and 5 is :level .
>
> Hope this helps . haven't done this type of programs for a couple of years
> as they closed out computer labs and I am now a kindergarten teacher .
don'
> t quite get this far with my kids in the year!
>
> Walter
>
> to koch_snowflake
> seth -90
> repeat 3 [rt 120 side :length :level]
> end
>
> to side :length :level
> if :level = 0 [fd :length stop]
> side :length / 3 :level - 1 lt 60
> side :length / 3 :level - 1 rt 120
> side :length / 3 :level - 1 lt 60
> side :length / 3 :level - 1
> end
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mwforum-admin@lists.mathcats.com
> [mailto:mwforum-admin@lists.mathcats.com] On Behalf Of Mikula Family
> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 10:50 PM
> To: MW Forum Replies
> Subject: [MWForum]Re:snowflake
>
> When I run Wendy's following program:
> to koch_snowflake
> seth -90
> repeat 3 [rt 120 side length level]
> end
> to side :length? :level?
> if :level? = 0 [fd :length? stop]
> side :length? / 3 :level? - 1 lt 60
> side :length? / 3 :level? - 1 rt 120
> side :length? / 3 :level? - 1 lt 60
> side :length? / 3 :level? - 1
> end
> The message is ... I don't know how to length in koch_snowflake
> Her demo on mathcats is perfect.  This is fun. Thanks for the help.
>
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