How and with whom young children use Logo Dr. Catherine Wilson Gillespie Drake University Des...
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Transcript of How and with whom young children use Logo Dr. Catherine Wilson Gillespie Drake University Des...
How and with whom young children use Logo
Dr. Catherine Wilson Gillespie
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa
What is Logo?
• Logo is a child-friendly computer language• Developed by Dr. Seymour Papert (MIT) in 1968• Computer-based software that uses Logo includes:
– Lego-Logo– MicroWorlds
Is Logo Developmentally Appropriate?
• Age• Interest• Culture
How do Young Children use Logo?
• Constructing
• Demonstrating
• Role Playing
• Using Construction
• Talking
Kindergarteners
• One hour of Lego-Logo time three times per week• Lego and MicroWorlds both available• Discovery approach• Nine target children over two years
Kindergarteners
Target Children Average time spent constructing
5 Boys 66%
(range 59-73%)
4 Girls 66%
(range 41-80%)
Head Start students
• MicroWorlds as a choice activity
• During center time
• Discovery approach
• All children observed
• Target children were the frequent users
Head Start students
Target children who were observed constructing
10% or more of the time they used MicroWorlds
Average time spent constructing
Ralph 67%
Rich 59%
With whom do children use Lego?
• Alone
• With a peer
• With a teacher
• With peer(s) and a teacher
With Whom Children Used Logo While Constructing
Kindergarteners Alone With a Peer
Boys 50% 32%
Girls 55% 21%
With Whom Children Used Logo While Constructing
Head Start
Students
Alone With an Adult
Boys 68% 20%
Conclusions
• Age differences
• No gender differences in behavior
• Gender differences in social configurations
• Discovery approach with support can be developmentally appropriate for children ages 3-6
Thank you
• Iowa Early Childhood Papert Partnership– Drake University– Drake University Head Start– Des Moines Public Schools– Norwalk Public Schools– Heartland Area Education Agency