Do you remember programming using Logo?

; draws a square with sides 100 units long

FORWARD 100

LEFT 90

FORWARD 100

LEFT 90

FORWARD 100

LEFT 90

FORWARD 100

LEFT 90

If you recognise the above syntax, you probably learned how to program the interpretive software language of Logo, developed by at MIT by Wally Feurzeig and Seymour Papert.

Seymour Papert 2006 (sourced from Wikipedia)

After moving to USA, Seymour Papert, a South African mathematician, become interested in education. For those of you curious in hearing a different perspective on technology in education, have a read of Seymour Papert’s take on things.

http://www.abc.net.au/sundayprofile/stories/s1144341.htm.

For me, discovering about Seymour was interesting for me because during my time at school I learnt how to use the Logo application. I’m not sure if it triggered any great things in me, but it is something I recall doing in class.

While at my last placement, I was surprised to hear that the grade 07s had a week of class dedicated to robotics. When I heard this, I asked to observe these classes and noted that the teacher was using Lego and the software created in collaboration with Seymour Papert. His legacy continues.

Again, I’m not sure of the explicit value in playing with the Lego and learning about robotics, but I can see the opportunity these tools have in opening the minds of children, giving them freedom to explore and experiment.