Subject:
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Re: Mindstorms (more than just robotics?)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Sat, 7 Nov 1998 10:15:12 GMT
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Original-From:
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Geoff Seel <GEOFFS@GSEEL.spamcakeDEMON.CO.UK>
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Viewed:
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2416 times
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In message <199811062316.PAA08596@pixel.Stanford.EDU>, Kekoa Proudfoot
<kekoa@Graphics.Stanford.EDU> writes
> Brian Stormont wrote:
> > She seemed a lot more comfortable trying to figure out design problems
> > with the actual lego pieces - the programming side was more of a
> > struggle.
>
> I'm curious. What does she think of the programming environment? It she
> strugging to figure out how to use it and get it to do the things she
> wants? Or is she struggling because the programming environment is limited?
>
> I'm wondering because I have no idea how easy the programming environment
> is for someone new to programming to learn and work with...
>
> -Kekoa
Feedback from a 10-year old (entirely his own words including e-mail
shouting!)
--------------------------
I personally like the programming, but, there is a MISTAKE! The MISTAKE
is, when it has a "stack" it does this: When it starts a new stack, it
does not carry on with the old one. What a mistake! But it is MUCH
better than Logo, and it is a good source of entertainment. But what a
MISTAKE it has!
Andrew Seel
---------------------------
The handling of stacks and the lack of re-entrancy make it a difficult
environment for teaching programming in a logical manner (hard to debug
multi-sensor systems sensibly). We have done some work with Logo since
he was about 8. It was fine as a way of learning to manipulate a turtle
but the handling of variables is horribly confusing (definition in a
different format to use).
He is now persuading me to start on Java, which I use in business. The
concepts of OO appear natural to children, i.e. you tell an object to
perform an action (method) - e.g. Andrew.tidyRoom(now) - still seems to
be an implementation problem with that one!
--
Geoff Seel Voice: +44 (0)181-390-0109
Financial Object Resources Ltd. Fax: +44 (0)870-054-7931
54, Berrylands Road, e-mail: geoffs@gseel.demon.co.uk
Surbiton, WWW: www.gseel.demon.co.uk
Surrey KT5 8PD
United Kingdom
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Mindstorms (more than just robotics?)
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| (...) Meaning that it abandons it in the middle? (I don't have Windows, so I can't try it). Geoff Seel wrote: (...) ...so you think it's easier to let people walk right into synchronisation bugs and learn the hard way? (...) Well, defintion can't (...) (26 years ago, 7-Nov-98, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | Re: Mindstorms (more than just robotics?)
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| In article <RP0jfKAw2BR2Ew7K@gs...on.co.uk>, Geoff Seel <geoffs@gseel.demon.co.uk> writes (...) Is that while building the stacks on screen, or when executing them in the 'bot? In other words, are you saying the 'bot won't multitask? (26 years ago, 7-Nov-98, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Mindstorms (more than just robotics?)
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| (...) I'm curious. What does she think of the programming environment? It she strugging to figure out how to use it and get it to do the things she wants? Or is she struggling because the programming environment is limited? I'm wondering because I (...) (26 years ago, 6-Nov-98, to lugnet.robotics)
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